Soldiers from Operation Hadarin Daji, Team 3, Magami, deployed to combat terrorism in Zamfara State in Nigeria’s North-West region, have voiced concerns over the non-payment of their December allowances and a significant cutback in their daily meals and beverages.
Sources reveal that these soldiers, currently stationed at the frontline, are now receiving only one meal a day instead of the customary three. This challenging situation has compelled them to use their own funds to supplement their nutrition.
A soldier at the Zamfara base shared, “Here at Zamfara, they never paid us last year’s December allowance, and now they are cutting down our meals every day. We are supposed to be fed three times a day, but today it’s only one meal. We use our salary to feed ourselves.”
Additionally, soldiers have reported a reduction in both the quantity and quality of their beverages. Previously, each soldier was entitled to 10 sachets of Bournvita and 10 sachets of Peak Milk for two weeks. However, this has now been reduced to zero Bournvita and six sachets of Peak Milk.
Another soldier added, “Our provisions have also been shortened. They used to give us 10 sachets of tea and 10 sachets of powder milk for two weeks, but now it’s no sachets of tea, and the powder milk has been reduced to 6.”
This outcry echoes a similar situation reported in September 2023, where soldiers from the 154 Taskforce Battalion in the Northeast region decried poor feeding despite an increase in the allocated feeding allowance. Soldiers complained of being served poorly cooked rice and inadequate meals, prompting an investigation by the army into their claims.
In response to these recent reports, the Nigerian Army has ordered an immediate investigation to verify the soldiers’ claims. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, emphasized the importance of the welfare of troops and pledged to address any issues identified during the investigation. The army reiterated its commitment to ensuring the well-being and motivation of its personnel on the frontlines.
