Nigerian soldiers stationed at the 7 Division, Maimalari Military Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State, have alleged mistreatment by their Theatre Commander, Major General W. Shaiba. According to reports from SaharaReporters, the soldiers, who requested anonymity to avoid retaliation, claim they are forced to spend at least N2,000 daily on water because Shaiba has allegedly disconnected the generator used to power the camp’s water pump.
These soldiers have reportedly been enduring severe hardships, with no electricity, water, or other essential amenities. One soldier stated, “The current Theatre Commander, Maj. Gen. W. Shaiba, doesn’t care about troops’ welfare, even from his time as the GOC of 7 Division, Maiduguri. At Maimalari military cantonment, there is a scarcity of water and no electricity within the barracks, despite allocated funds for these amenities.”
He further mentioned a monthly budget of N1 billion for the theatre command operation, yet no visible improvements have been made since Shaiba assumed his current role. Another soldier echoed these sentiments, stating that Shaiba disconnected the borehole near his residence, preventing soldiers and their families from accessing water. “We suffer daily, buying water for N1,000 per trip. How can soldiers afford this on their salaries? We need serious intervention,” the soldier pleaded.
Additional grievances include the lack of operational welfare allowances and other entitlements that are regularly paid to Navy and Customs personnel. Soldiers argue that while their counterparts receive N1 million after deployments in the North-East, they return home empty-handed after years of service. “We risk our lives for this country, but our superior officers’ promises of care are hollow. There is no hope or future in this job for us,” one soldier lamented.
In response to these allegations, Major General Shaiba denied all claims when contacted by SaharaReporters. He called the allegations false and urged reporters to investigate thoroughly. Shaiba specifically denied the disconnection of the generator and any misconduct regarding the borehole, asserting, “The borehole was faulty two weeks ago but has since been fixed. It is more than two kilometers from my house, making these allegations baseless.”
Shaiba also dismissed claims of unfair treatment regarding the payment of allowances to soldiers compared to other security personnel, asserting that the supposed payments to Navy and Customs officers were untrue. Regarding the power outage, he attributed it to terrorist activities affecting the barracks.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Nigerian Army on these issues were unsuccessful. Calls to the Army spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, went unanswered, and messages sent to him received no reply.