EXCLUSIVE: ‘We’re Treated Like Slaves’: Nigerian Army Trainers At NATRAC Kontagora Allege Starvation, Poor Living Conditions, Withheld Allowances
In response to the trainers, they’re nine in quantity and are for the time being to blame for preparing lots of of recruits for frontline wrestle, but they converse they’re being treated “admire slaves” by their superiors.
Loads of Nigerian Army personnel connected to the Nigerian Army Practising Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, Niger Inform, beget accused their commanding officer of subjecting them to inhumane dwelling prerequisites, starvation and the chronic withholding of their meagre ₦5,000 instructors’ allowance.
The infantrymen, who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters below situation of anonymity for anxiety of reprisals, said they’ve been stationed at NATRAC since February 17, 2025, with a mandate to prepare newly recruited infantrymen for deployment to Nigeria’s battle-ridden North-East, where Boko Haram insurgents proceed to feature.
In response to the trainers, they’re nine in quantity and are for the time being to blame for preparing lots of of recruits for frontline wrestle, but they converse they’re being treated “admire slaves” by their superiors.
“We are Nigerian Army personnel connected to Kontagora. Our accountability is to prepare fresh infantrymen at NATRAC. These are infantrymen which can be sent to the North-East to face Boko Haram,” knowing to be one of the important trainers said.
“It is terribly painful that we, who are admire academics preparing others for the warfare front, are being deprived of our well-liked rights.”
The infantrymen alleged that there might perchance be no longer any such thing as an on a common foundation provision for feeding or lodging for them, despite their prolonged posting to the coaching centre.
They claimed they sleep in extraordinarily unhappy prerequisites, without mattresses or mushy bedding.
“There is not any longer any lodging for us. The place we are managing to sleep, there might perchance be no longer any such thing as a mattress. We sleep on bare bunks,” but another soldier urged SaharaReporters.
The trainers extra alleged that food is most attention-grabbing offered when trainees are repeat in the camp, and even then, the usual is unfit for consumption.
“Our commander most attention-grabbing offers food when trainees are in camp. And the food they give us is terribly damaging. I am obvious even a pig will mediate twice sooner than drinking it, however we don’t desire any choice,” knowing to be one of them said.
Beyond unhappy welfare, the infantrymen also accused the commander of mechanically withholding their ₦5,000 instructors’ allowance, which they said is supposed to be paid weekly.
In response to them, the allowance is most attention-grabbing paid when trainees are repeat, and even then, funds are steadily delayed for weeks or months.
“Essentially the most attention-grabbing allowance we receive is ₦5,000, tagged as instructors’ allowance. It is supposed to be paid weekly, however our commander continually withholds it,” a supply said.
“Most steadily this might perchance occasionally defend pack up to a month sooner than you receive even one rate. The cash is shrimp, however no longer paying it when due makes it even worse.”
The infantrymen wired that they’re no longer traumatic luxury, however well-liked welfare and timely rate of allowances, in particular given the serious feature they play in preparing troops for counter-insurgency operations.
“It is most attention-grabbing when students are round that they give us ₦5,000 weekly. As soon as there are no trainees, we bag nothing,” but another coach added.
Repeated calls and messages sent to the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, looking for feedback on the allegations weren’t spoke back to as of the time of submitting this characterize.
