Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has dismissed as false and misleading, a viral video alleging non-payment of troops’ allowances and victimisation of a soldier within the theatre of operations.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Theatre Command described the claims contained in the video as “deliberate misinformation” aimed at discrediting the military command structure and undermining ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
The Command clarified that the money referenced in the viral video was not operational allowance, stressing that all legitimate allowances due to troops under Operation HADIN KAI had been fully paid up to May 2026.
According to the statement, the allowances already paid include the Ration Cash Allowance (RCA), which is disbursed to units for centralized feeding of troops, Operational Allowance paid directly into personnel accounts, as well as Habit Allowance also paid into individual accounts.
The Command explained that the issue raised in the video related to an additional incentive meant for troops providing security at a critical national asset in Tuba, noting that the incentive was not a statutory operational entitlement but an arrangement dependent on availability of funds.
It disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had initially taken responsibility for the payment before suspending it after ceasing exploration activities in the area.
The statement added that the Borno State Government subsequently intervened by assuming responsibility for the payment arrangement and was currently working towards integrating troops into the same payment structure already existing for the Police and Volunteer Forces.
“At the time the concern was raised, funds for this additional allowance were still pending. During an operational visit, the soldier presented the issue to Brigadier General Solomon Diwa, General Officer Commanding 7 Division, who assured troops that he would engage relevant authorities to facilitate payment once funds became available,” the statement said.
The Theatre Command further dismissed allegations that the soldier involved was intimidated or punished, insisting that the Nigerian Army remained committed to the welfare and fair treatment of personnel.
It also revealed that preliminary findings indicated that the viral content was not produced by the soldier but by “a mischievous content creator” allegedly known for spreading misleading narratives sourced from disgruntled individuals.
The Command described the act as unpatriotic and warned that dissemination of such information violated the Nigerian Armed Forces social media policy governing operational matters.
It noted that mechanisms had already been put in place by the Military High Command to ensure prompt payment of all legitimate entitlements while also improving funding timelines for supplementary allowances through collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
While urging the media and the public to avoid spreading unverified information capable of undermining troop morale and national security efforts, the Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability across the North-East.
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