An ex-soldier has sparked widespread concern after revealing alleged corruption and embezzlement within the ranks of Nigeria’s military, claiming that soldiers’ funds are being misappropriated while high-ranking generals enjoy extravagant lifestyles. Her revelations shed light on how ordinary soldiers face financial neglect and risk their lives without adequate support, even as some top officers accumulate wealth beyond imagination.
In a recent interview with Lucky Udu, the former soldier detailed how modern generals have acquired entire estates and mansions across cities like Abuja. She noted that such displays of wealth were rare when she joined the army in 1993, highlighting a sharp contrast between the past and present leadership. “You see this estate belongs to this person in Abuja, that estate belongs to this general. When I joined the army in 1993, it was rare to see a general build such huge mansions,” she said, pointing to what she describes as an alarming trend of accumulation through illicit means.
According to her, the luxurious lifestyles enjoyed by some high-ranking officers are funded not by their salaries, but by misappropriated security funds and the money that should rightfully go to the soldiers risking their lives. “Is it his salary he is using to acquire those houses? No. It is the soldiers’ money and security funds they are taking. That money should have been paid to soldiers who are risking their lives and sometimes dying,” she added, underscoring the human cost of such corruption within the military hierarchy.
She further illustrated the personal and emotional toll of this mismanagement, revealing that some soldiers die in service without their families ever being informed. “Some soldiers die without their families knowing,” she said, describing the tragedy of families left unaware of their loved ones’ deaths while the funds meant for them are diverted. In one particular case, she shared that the wife of a deceased soldier had no idea her husband had passed away, and locating the family became a challenge just to settle financial matters, emphasizing the negligence and lack of accountability involved.
Her account has resonated widely, prompting many Nigerians to express outrage at the abuse of power and the mismanagement of military funds. A commentator wrote, “It is heartbreaking to see soldiers’ money being stolen while their families suffer,” while another added, “This shows why transparency and reforms in the military are long overdue.” Social media discussions reflect a growing demand for accountability and structural reform within the Nigerian military, with many citizens calling for urgent action to protect soldiers and their families.
Concluding her interview, the ex-soldier issued a strong call for change, emphasizing that systemic reforms are necessary to stop the exploitation of soldiers and ensure justice. “They need to change,” she said, stressing that without proper oversight, the human and financial cost of corruption within the military will continue to escalate. Her testimony serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and comprehensive reforms within the military system.
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They keep embezzling funds meant for the welfare of the lower ranked soldiers https://t.co/qprdJBKEMG
— MEEK-VALENTINE (@Meekval) December 11, 2025