Unpaid Soldier Heads Home After 10 Months With ₦4,500

A Nigerian soldier who spent 10 months away from his family without official permission returned to Abuja carrying just ₦4,500, only to face the devastating news that one of his newborn twins had died while the other battles for survival.

The soldier, who was hitchhiking from a duty post, confided in a kind-hearted motorist near Giri junction that his wife had pleaded with him to rush home. One twin had already passed away, and doctors feared the second child might not survive.

He had delayed his journey, hoping his salary would drop on the 2nd of the month as usual. When nothing came, he set out anyway with the little money left in his pocket – barely enough for a short bus ride to Zuba, his next stop.

Social media user Omar Zarma, who picked up the soldier and offered him a lift, shared the encounter online. Zarma said he gave the desperate father ₦20,000 on the spot and promised to follow up on the sick baby’s condition.

The story has drawn sharp reactions from Nigerians, many asking how troops expected to confront bandits, kidnappers and insurgents can remain focused when basic family needs go unmet.

NaijaChoice News notes that the incident comes weeks after the Federal Government approved a new salary structure for the Armed Forces, with entry-level privates now slated to earn around ₦300,000 monthly under the reviewed scale. Yet reports of delayed payments and unpaid allowances continue to surface.

Military authorities have repeatedly insisted that welfare reforms, including higher operational allowances and better feeding support, are improving troop morale. Frontline soldiers now receive up to ₦60,000 monthly in operational allowances, according to recent official updates.

Still, cases like this soldier’s highlight the gap between policy announcements and the reality on the ground. Many families of serving personnel still struggle with irregular salaries, especially after prolonged deployments.

The soldier’s plight has re-ignited debate on whether Nigeria’s fighting men, who daily risk their lives in the battle against insecurity, are getting the timely support they deserve.

Omar Zarma ended his post with a simple prayer for the surviving twin. As of press time, no official comment has come from the Nigerian Army on this particular case, but the wider conversation on soldiers’ welfare refuses to die down.