A soldier in the Nigerian army has revealed some hidden information about the military, his experiences in the battle against Boko Haram and other issues.

The unidentified soldier, who spoke in an interview with Lucky Udu, recounted his struggles while serving in Borno State, where he witnessed his comrades fall in battle.

He disclosed that he had been recruited into the army before turning 18 years old. Despite the age limit for joining the army being 18, he was fortunate to come from a military family.

The soldier expressed his frustration that funds allocated by the government for weapons, combat gear and essential supplies were being diverted.

He mentioned that many families were unaware that they were entitled to compensation when they lost a loved one in combat. Consequently, these funds were being misappropriated, depriving families of their rightful benefits.

“I don’t think its going to end anytime soon because a lot of people are benefiting from it. Whenever the government makes provision for certain things, those things are not done. The money does not get to the right places and the right people, especially for weapons and feeding; certain people benefit from it. And also, when a soldier dies in the bush, the families are not aware that the government is supposed to pay them. Even if you serve for a day in the army and you die in combat, your family is entitled to some amounts of money. A lot of people are not aware. That money is being paid, but someone is benefiting from it. So, for some people, Boko Haram is a means of income for them and they will do anything to not stop that income because they are making so much from it,” he said.

The soldier also revealed how some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had become tools and informants for Boko Haram. He mentioned that NGOs had been banned in certain areas where soldiers were stationed due to leaking information to insurgents.

“We’ve known about certain NGO’s that will come to our camps, collect information, go to Boko Haram camp and give them details. At some point we had to stop NGOs from coming to the camps. Till date, NGOs don’t go to certain places where soldiers are in Borno State. They were leaking information, the number of soldiers, the kind of weapons, everything they saw and they got to report back to Boko Haram.

So many people in Borno State don’t have homes. People will donate to these NGOs thinking they are helping these people, but the NGOs are helping themselves. Although we still have some NGOs with good intentions, most of them are corrupt,” he explained

Additionally, the soldier mentioned that soldiers in Borno State often suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the traumatic events they faced.

“We’ve seen cases where we arrest somebody and the person will come back a week later with a fresh attack. Most of the time, we don’t go to their camps; they come to us to launch their attacks. Leaving your family behind, you will get to bond with different people but at the end of the day, you just lose them in the next five minute.

If we are experiencing an attack and we are in the camp bonding with our colleagues, then suddenly there will be an attack. After the attack, you will realise that the person you’re playing with is dead. Sometimes the trauma that comes with it, seeing a friend of yours that was shot is not dead yet is calling you for help, but you can’t go to him because you will get shot too. Then him dying, your conscience will fight you like you were supposed to go help him, but deep down when you leave your cover, you will get shot. Boko Haram, they are trained. They have snipers as well. So, when you leave your trench, you’re done,” he shared.

The soldier also recounted an incident where some of the Chibok girls, whom they tried to rescue, resisted being saved because they had been married to Boko Haram members. Some of the girls had children with the terrorists and were emotionally attached to them, making it difficult for them to leave the camps.

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