“Don’t shoot peaceful protesters, even if you’ve been ordered to” – Nigerian soldier tells fellow staff
Nigerian soldier sparked reactions online after urging security colleagues not to use force against peaceful protesters.
In a viral video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by @General_somto, he appealed to police officers to respect the right of citizens to protest and avoid attacking protesters.
“To my fellow Nigerian soldiers and personnel, please do not shoot or tear gas the peaceful protesters. Let them exercise their civil rights. Even if the order is given, still use your brain,” he said.
He wondered how security operatives would feel if their loved ones were victims of insecurity, while the citizens were only demanding action through peaceful protests.
“How will you feel, or even sleep, if your children, wife, mother, father or relative is one of the victims of a bush kidnapping?” he added.
Referring to the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State, he noted that no parent would rest easy knowing that their child or family member remained in the hands of kidnappers.
The video has since drawn mixed reactions online. While many Nigerians praised the soldier for speaking out, others debated the role of security agencies during the protests.
Watch the video below…
“To my fellow Nigerian soldiers and personnel, please do not shoot or teargas the peaceful protestors. Allow them to exercise their civil rights. Even if an order is issued, still use your brain. How will you feel or even sleep if your children, wife, mother, father or… pic.twitter.com/7uSaLDLx8M
— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) June 7, 2026
