“I’m going back to the bush”: Soldier Laments Inability To Afford Transport Fare To Visit Family

• A Nigerian soldier said he is going back to the bush in Borno state because his salary cannot take care of his transport fare to visit his family
• He disclosed this in a viral video, stating that his salary is N50,000 while a round trip to visit his family is N70,000
• The identified soldier said he had no other option than to leave the bus park and return to the camp

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy

Maiduguri, Borno State - A Nigerian soldier has lamented about the high cost of transport which has prevented him from visiting his family after spending a year in the bush in Borno state.

In a viral video, the unidentified soldier said after he was permitted to see his family, he got to the part and discovered that transportation fare to his hometown was N35,000, which amounts to N70,000 for a round trip, The Punch reported.

Read also

Boyfriend teaches girlfriend big lesson, tells her to repay all investment he made on her

Expressing his frustration, the soldier said he would return to the bush because his monthly salary of N50,000 could not take care of his transport.

According to SaharaReporter, peaking in Pidgin-English, the soldier said:

“See wahala oo, the Nigerian Army gave me a pass to go and see my family as I spent one year in Maiduguri.

“As I left the bush, I reached the park and they told me that from here to my town is N35,000. I calculated it and going and coming back is N70,000 and my salary that I was paid this month was N50,000.

“I don’t have any option again; I’m going back to the bush.”

The Senate Majority Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, had earlier complained that recruits in the army receive less than N50,000 per month.

Read also

“I feel heavy in my spirit”: Fubara makes disturbing confession over feud with Wike

Ndume said it is difficult to ask someone whose salary cannot buy a bag of rice to sacrifice and put in his best for the country.

Nigerian soldier shoots self

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian soldier identified as Boyi Thankgod reportedly killed himself at the Alamala Barrack in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

Boyi is said to have shot himself in the head when he was on standby duty on Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

A source at the barracks said the incident was true and added that it happened on Monday, January 15. The source further disclosed that an investigation has been launched into the incident to unravel the circumstances behind the soldier's action.

Source: Legit.ng