A group of discharged Nigerian soldiers resumed their protest in Abuja on Thursday, demanding the payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The ex-servicemen had previously suspended their protest on August 4 following a meeting with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance, who promised that their entitlements would be settled by August 10.
However, gathering again at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in the capital, the former soldiers accused the authorities of neglect and failing to fulfill the promises made during the earlier meeting.
One of the protesters, known as Mama G, stated that they were compelled to return to the streets after the assurances given last month produced no tangible results.
“We are back because the promises made to us were not kept. We had no choice but to return to the streets, and this time, the protest will be massive,” said Mama G.
This is not the first time the group has staged a demonstration. In recent years, retired soldiers have consistently protested in Abuja and other cities, decrying what they describe as unfair treatment and government neglect.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pension Board had yet to issue an official statement.
