A Nigerian soldier attached to the Nigerian Army Aviation Hangar in Minna, Niger State, has been arrested after he appeared in military uniform during a TikTok live session asking popular content creator King Pedro for financial assistance.
According to SaharaReporters, the soldier was arrested at the 234 Battalion in Badagry, Lagos State, where he was staying, although he is attached to the Army Aviation Hangar in Minna.
A military source said the arrest followed the viral livestream.
“What happened is that the particular soldier begged King Pedro for money online on Saturday. Instead of helping him, the civilian insulted him,” the source said.
The source also alleged that another soldier had been similarly ridiculed by the TikTok influencer.
“If you check the videos on King Pedro’s timeline, you will see another young soldier. That one told him he had spent just one year in the Army, and King Pedro also insulted him badly. I don’t know whether they have arrested that other one, but this one is a senior soldier. Only God knows his fate now,” the source added.
In a video recorded after his arrest, the soldier identified himself, saying, “I am in 234 Battalion, Badagry. I am attached to the Nigerian Army Aviation Hangar, Minna, in Niger State.”
During the livestream, King Pedro asked the soldier if he had eaten, to which he replied, “Yes sir, I have not eaten.”
The soldier also said he had served in the Nigerian Army for five years and was deployed to Niger State.
Reacting, King Pedro criticised the soldier for appearing in uniform while asking for money.
“You have been in the Army for five years, and you are wearing military uniform to come on live stream to beg for money. You don’t have respect for that uniform,” he said.
He added, “They should lock you up and court-martial you. You are not supposed to wear Nigerian Army uniform and come on live stream begging for money. If you want to beg, wear civilian clothes. Don’t disgrace the Nigerian Army.”
The video has since sparked mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians condemning the soldier’s actions while others blamed the country’s economic hardship for pushing serving personnel to seek financial assistance on social media.
