Some Nigerian Army personnel fighting in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast say they are in support of Nigerians taking to the streets to protest the prevailing hardship, hunger, and bad governance.
A nationwide protest in Nigeria themed “End Bad Governance in Nigeria” has been planned for August 1 to 10.
According to some of the soldiers who spoke to SaharaReporters, the military personnel are also affected by hardship and the bad economy.
They claimed the current government of Bola Tinubu and previous ones had impoverished those of them in the lower cadre.
The soldiers noted that to meet their basic financial needs, they have to sell their cars, televisions, housing properties and others.
“We soldiers here in Borno are in full support of this protest due to the hardship in the country, everything has now gone up in prices. Our salaries can no longer sustain these current prices right now, we need urgent intervention. If not, things will gradually go out of control, many soldiers cannot longer pay for their children NECO, WAEC fees not even talk of university or higher institutions fees,” one of the soldiers told SaharaReporters.
“There’s a hunger in all army barracks right now, soldiers are selling their property for them to survive till end of the months, this has been happening since January 2024. We need palliatives in the barracks as well. Please the general public should help us too, this is the right time the rich people should help we soldiers.
“All Nigerians should know there is hunger in the barracks, we are human beings like every Nigerians, our salaries and allowances are too poor. Again, we’re in support of this peaceful protest that’s coming on 1st of August 2024. The current situation in the country is very unfortunate and so worrisome.”
Another army personnel added, “Sir about 97% of soldiers are in support of this protest coming up on August 1st due to the poor salaries and allowances. Only the corrupt Generals and commanders are against the protest, we junior soldiers are also victims of bad government, we cannot feed our families cause our salaries don’t last a week. Nigerians should come out and protest, it’s their right, the suffering is enough and unacceptable anymore.”