Nigerian soldier attached to the Nigerian Army Aviation Hangar in Minna, Niger State, has been arrested by military authorities.
His arrest followed his appearance in military uniform on a TikTok live session where he begged a popular content creator, King Pedro, for money, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The soldier, however, was arrested at the 234 Battalion in Badagry, Lagos State, where he was staying, and not in Niger State, despite being attached to the Army Aviation Hangar in Minna.
A top military source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that the soldier’s arrest followed a viral exchange with King Pedro, who publicly berated him for soliciting money while wearing his military uniform.
“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 added that the TikTok influencer had similarly insulted another young soldier in a separate live session.
“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 and obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, the soldier identified himself, saying, “I am in 234 Battalion, Badagry. I am attached to the Nigerian Army Aviation Hangar, Minna, in Niger State.”
Before his arrest, the soldier had appeared on King Pedro’s TikTok live session wearing his military uniform.
When asked whether he had eaten, the soldier replied, “Yes sir, I have not eaten.”
He also disclosed that he had served in the Nigerian Army for five years and was deployed to Niger State.
King Pedro immediately condemned the soldier for begging while wearing military uniform.
“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,” the influencer said.
He warned the soldier that he could face disciplinary action.
“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,” King Pedro added.
The video has since gone viral on social media, triggering mixed reactions, with some Nigerians condemning the soldier’s conduct while others blamed the country’s economic hardship for forcing serving personnel to seek financial assistance online.
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