The Nigerian Army has dismissed Ex-Lance Corporal Rotimi Olamilekan, known as "Soja Boi," for breaches of military code of conduct. This followed a widely shared interview in which he aired grievances about soldiers' welfare and remuneration. The Army confirmed the dismissal but clarified it was not due to his public call for children of politicians to enlist. Instead, the action stemmed from violations of military regulations, though specific details of the breaches were not disclosed. Army spokesperson Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu stated that Olamilekan's case was processed in line with military justice and due process. The statement sought to correct what it described as misinformation about the reason for his dismissal.
Rotimi Olamilekan's dismissal was not triggered by his controversial call for political elites to send their children to the army, but by internal conduct rules he breached. The military's emphasis on due process in his case suggests public opinion, even viral fame, does not override institutional discipline. For Nigerian soldiers, this reinforces that speaking out may come at a professional cost, regardless of public support.
