A troubling wave of suicides among Nigerian military personnel over the past five years highlights urgent concerns over mental health care, welfare conditions, and corruption within the armed forces, investigation by Military Mirror has revealed.
Few days ago, Lance Corporal Femi Akinleye killed his wife, Blessing, before taking his own life at the Wawa Military Cantonment in New Bussa, Niger State, according to military sources.
The cantonment, a key military base housing the 22 Armoured Brigade and known for detaining Boko Haram suspects, is now the site of yet another fatal tragedy.
Investigation by Military Mirror showed that the incident fits a pattern of suicides and violent acts linked to mental distress in the Nigerian military:
In November 2023, Captain Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza died by suicide in Akwa Ibom State, leaving notes citing frustration with his commander and internal conflicts.
Also, in June 2023, Master Warrant Officer George of the Nigerian Air Force took her own life in her home in Ikeja, Lagos.
In March 2021, Soldier Bello Useni committed suicide at the Nigerian Army School of Armour in Bauchi.
Year 2020 witnessed multiple suicides and violent incidents, including a soldier killing a superior officer before killing himself in Borno State.
Earlier cases include a soldier hanging himself in Abuja in 2019 and similar suicides dating back to 2017.
Contributing Factors
Military personnel and analysts point to several contributors driving the crisis:
Mental Health Gaps
Soldiers operating in high-intensity conflict zones, particularly in Northeast Nigeria’s insurgency, face traumatic stress with minimal psychological support or counselling.
Poor Welfare and Overstaying
Many troops complain about poor living conditions and unwanted prolonged deployments without timely rotation, leading to burnout and depression.
Corruption
Allegations of deep-rooted corruption within the military hierarchy erode morale and effectiveness, with soldiers alleging embezzlement of operational funds and favouritism.
Leadership Issues
Toxic relationships with commanders and lack of empathetic leadership exacerbate emotional distress among troops, as indicated by Captain Bazza’s suicide notes.
Further investigation by Military Mirrorshows Nigeria’s security challenges intensify these factors, but the absence of formal mental health support and corrupt practices worsen outcomes.
Military Mirrorequally gathered that the Nigerian Army is yet to publicly address the spate of suicides in detail
A retired military officer who spoke to Military Mirror under the conditions of anonymity urged the Nigerian military to undertake immediate reforms that include: Establishment of comprehensive mental health services, including regular counselling, trauma therapy, and confidentiality protections.
“They should enforce strict rotation policies to prevent prolonged exposure to conflict zones and reduce fatigue. Conduct transparent anti-corruption drives with accountability mechanisms to restore troop confidence and also train military leaders in personnel management and emotional intelligence to create a more humane command environment.
Experts who spoke to our correspondent called for greater transparency and proactive measures to safeguard the lives and well-being of soldiers on the frontlines of Nigeria’s security battle.
According to them, without decisive action, the escalating suicide toll threatens to erode Nigeria’s military strength and compound national security challenges.
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