BAUCHI, Nigeria — A former Nigerian soldier, Michael Jojor, has gone public with serious allegations against Major General A.A. Adekeye, the former Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School (NAAS), accusing him of wrongful detention, forced demotion, and abuse of authority.
In a post shared via a Facebook page bearing the name “Nigeria Defence Academy,” Jojor detailed what he described as a traumatic and humiliating experience during his military career, which ultimately led to his resignation from the Army on January 22, 2025.
According to Jojor, he enlisted in the Nigerian Army on June 25, 2016, as a member of the 75RRI. He claimed he was officially attached to 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt, through an authorised release from NAAS. However, in June 2023, he said Major General Adekeye wrongfully declared him AWOL (Absent Without Leave).
“In June 2023, Maj Gen A.A. Adekeye instructed that I should be booked on AWOL. After that, I was released from 6 Division with a signal and pass to report back to Bauchi. When I got to NAAS, Maj Gen Adekeye locked me in the guardroom for up to two weeks,” Jojor wrote.
He recounted how he was later handed over to the military police for investigation, during which he provided evidence and testimony supporting his claim of a legitimate release. He said the police even contacted Brig Gen T. Isa, who confirmed Jojor’s assignment.
Despite being cleared, Jojor alleged that Maj. Gen. Adekeye bypassed due process, took him back from military police custody without documentation, and ordered his demotion from lance corporal to private. He also claimed he was punished with 14 additional days in detention and deployed to the frontline.
“It was the hardest period of my career… but somehow I managed, hoping that a day would come when my rank would be restored,” he said.
Jojor noted that for over a year, he repeatedly reached out to high-ranking military officers but received no response or resolution to his case. He eventually resigned from the military, citing deteriorating mental health and trauma.
“Sometimes I cried seeing my coursemates and juniors wearing their ranks while mine was stripped off. I was heartbroken and demoralized,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Jojor expressed fear of reprisal from the military but stated his determination to speak out.
“I know after seeing this, the Nigerian Army will probably come after me. But I’m no longer afraid of death. Speaking up for my rights is not a crime,” he declared.
“So many soldiers are going through this and worse, but they’re afraid to speak. I’ve had enough.”
As of press time, efforts to get an official response from the Nigerian Army have been unsuccessful.
