Military Clears Air on Troop Allowances, Dismisses Viral Video as Misleading

The Nigerian military has come out to debunk a viral video that has been making the rounds on social media. The video alleged that troops under Operation HADIN KAI were not being paid their allowances and that a soldier was being victimized. However, the Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI has issued a statement to set the record straight. According to the command, all legitimate allowances due to personnel under Operation HADIN KAI have been fully paid up to May 2026. This includes payments such as Ration Cash Allowance, Operational Allowance, and Habit Allowance, which have all been disbursed appropriately. The command explained that the controversy in the viral clip relates to a separate incentive payment tied to troops deployed at a critical national asset in Tuba. This payment is not part of the standard operational allowance structure and is only released when funds are made available. The arrangement for this additional payment was initially handled by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), while the Borno State Government also supported similar payments for police and volunteer forces. However, following the cessation of NNPC's involvement in exploration activities, the funding stream was affected, prompting the state government to step in and assume responsibility pending full integration into the existing security payment framework. The command stressed that at the time concerns were raised, the funds for this supplementary allowance were still pending release, and that assurances had already been given by the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, Brigadier General Solomon Diwa, that the matter would be escalated to the appropriate authorities for resolution once funding was available. The military also rejected allegations that the soldier featured in the video was intimidated or punished, insisting that preliminary findings show the content was not even produced by the soldier involved, but by a content creator seeking to exploit grievances from a small number of dissatisfied individuals. The Theatre Command warned that the spread of such content violates the Nigerian Armed Forces' social media policy, which regulates the publication of operational and internal matters, adding that appropriate measures will be taken against any breaches. The military said mechanisms have been strengthened to ensure timely payment of all legitimate entitlements and to improve coordination with relevant stakeholders on funding-related issues affecting supplementary allowances. Troop welfare remains a top priority, while the public and media are urged to avoid amplifying unverified claims capable of undermining morale and national security efforts. Operation HADIN KAI reiterated its commitment to restoring peace and stability in the North-East, while maintaining professionalism, discipline, and accountability in all its operations.