EXCLUSIVE: ‘We’re Treated Like Slaves’: Nigerian Army Trainers At NATRAC Kontagora Allege Starvation, Poor Living Conditions, Withheld Allowances

According to the trainers, they are nine in number and are currently responsible for preparing hundreds of recruits for frontline combat, yet they claim they are being treated “like slaves” by their superiors.

Several Nigerian Army personnel attached to the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, Niger State, have accused their commanding officer of subjecting them to inhumane living conditions, starvation and the persistent withholding of their meagre ₦5,000 instructors’ allowance.

The soldiers, who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters under condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said they have been stationed at NATRAC since February 17, 2025, with a mandate to train newly recruited soldiers for deployment to Nigeria’s conflict-ridden North-East, where Boko Haram insurgents continue to operate.

According to the trainers, they are nine in number and are currently responsible for preparing hundreds of recruits for frontline combat, yet they claim they are being treated “like slaves” by their superiors.

“We are Nigerian Army personnel attached to Kontagora. Our duty is to train new soldiers at NATRAC. These are soldiers that will be sent to the North-East to face Boko Haram,” one of the trainers said.

“It is very painful that we, who are like teachers preparing others for the war front, are being deprived of our basic rights.”

The soldiers alleged that there is no regular provision for feeding or accommodation for them, despite their prolonged posting to the training centre.

They claimed they sleep in extremely poor conditions, without mattresses or proper bedding.

“There is no accommodation for us. Where we are managing to sleep, there is no mattress. We sleep on bare bunks,” another soldier told SaharaReporters.

The trainers further alleged that food is only provided when trainees are present in the camp, and even then, the quality is unfit for consumption.

“Our commander only provides food when trainees are in camp. And the food they give us is very bad. I am sure even a pig will think twice before eating it, but we have no option,” one of them said.

Beyond poor welfare, the soldiers also accused the commander of routinely withholding their ₦5,000 instructors’ allowance, which they said is supposed to be paid weekly.

According to them, the allowance is only paid when trainees are present, and even then, payments are often delayed for weeks or months.

“The only allowance we receive is ₦5,000, tagged as instructors’ allowance. It is meant to be paid weekly, but our commander always withholds it,” a source said.

“Sometimes it will take up to a month before you receive even one payment. The money is small, but not paying it when due makes it even worse.”

The soldiers stressed that they are not demanding luxury, but basic welfare and timely payment of allowances, especially given the critical role they play in preparing troops for counter-insurgency operations.

“It is only when students are around that they give us ₦5,000 weekly. Once there are no trainees, we get nothing,” another trainer added.

Repeated calls and messages sent to the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, seeking comments on the allegations were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.