Col. Anele described mutiny as “a grave offence under military law,” adding that it is alien to the ethos, discipline and professionalism of Nigerian Army personnel,
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Nigerian Army has dismissed as a false alarm an online report alleging that soldiers were planning a mutiny over poor salaries, allowances and welfare conditions, insisting that there is no such threat within its ranks.
The Army Headquarters made the clarification in a statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, titled “Threats of Mutiny: A False Alarm – Nigerian Army Committed to Troop Welfare, Discipline.”
According to the statement, “the attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication alleging that soldiers are threatening mutiny over salaries and allowances,” stressing that “at no time has there been any threat of mutiny within the Nigerian Army.”
Col. Anele described mutiny as “a grave offence under military law,” adding that it is alien to the ethos, discipline and professionalism of Nigerian Army personnel, who remain loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Army faulted the report for relying on “anonymous, unverifiable claims circulated through non-official channels,” noting that such narratives do not reflect the views or conduct of officers and soldiers. It emphasised that personnel are trained to channel grievances through established military procedures rather than public platforms.
The statement also cautioned against misrepresenting promotion increments as total earnings, explaining that military remuneration consists of consolidated salaries, rank-based allowances, operational allowances, field and hardship allowances, as well as other entitlements that vary by deployment, qualification and responsibility.
Reaffirming its commitment to welfare, the Army said it is working with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and relevant government authorities to implement structured reforms, including periodic salary reviews, enhanced operational allowances, improved accommodation, medical care and insurance packages for troops and their families. Issues relating to allowances, it added, are continuously reviewed within approved government frameworks.
The statement further disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff, upon assuming office, initiated engagements with the appropriate authorities on troop welfare, noting that these efforts are “already yielding progressive outcomes.”
Contrary to claims of neglect, the Army said the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently demonstrated commitment to the welfare and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces, particularly in the face of evolving security challenges.
“The Nigerian Army remains a cohesive, disciplined and professional force, fully focused on its constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and supporting internal security operations,” the statement said, warning that attempts to portray the institution as unstable or lawless are irresponsible and detrimental to national security.
The public was urged to disregard the unfounded report and rely on official communication channels for accurate information on the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces.