The Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims circulating in a viral video produced by Lucky Udu Studio alleging neglect and institutional indifference to the welfare of Nigerian military personnel wounded in action, describing the assertions as misleading and unsupported by facts.
Zig Diaries Defence
Date: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Time: 18:20 WAT
Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria
DHQ clarified that the welfare of personnel injured during military operations remains a core moral and operational priority of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, stressing that all wounded personnel are entitled to comprehensive medical care in line with established Armed Forces medical policies.
In a statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the Defence Headquarters said treatment is provided locally or abroad depending on the severity of injuries,
with critically wounded personnel routinely evacuated to reputable foreign
medical facilities where advanced care is required.
Within Nigeria, wounded personnel
receive treatment across the Armed Forces’ network of military hospitals and
medical centres, supported where necessary by referrals to specialised civilian
hospitals at government expense. Medical evacuation, surgery, rehabilitation,
prosthetics and long-term care form part of a structured and institutionalised
framework designed to ensure continuity of care.
The Defence Headquarters further
explained that personnel whose injuries prevent continued service are processed
under favourable discharge and medical boarding conditions, granting access to
pensions, gratuities and other statutory benefits in accordance with extant regulations.
It added that families of personnel killed in action are supported through
death benefits, insurance payouts, pensions, educational support for dependants
and sustained engagement by military authorities.
Rejecting the insinuation that
injured or fallen soldiers are abandoned, the Armed Forces noted that wounded
personnel also benefit from rehabilitation programmes, counselling services,
family support mechanisms and continuous command oversight. DHQ pointed out
that individuals featured in the viral video are themselves evidence of ongoing
rehabilitation efforts, serving as living testimony to institutional care for
those wounded in service.
The military also highlighted
Nigeria’s participation in the Invictus Games, a global initiative that supports
the recovery and reintegration of wounded, injured and sick service personnel
through sports, describing the programme as a reflection of the Armed Forces’
commitment to physical recovery, mental resilience and social reintegration.
While acknowledging that welfare
systems require continuous improvement, the Defence Headquarters emphasised
that constructive feedback is welcome but warned that sweeping and
unsubstantiated generalisations undermine the efforts of professionals who work
daily to care for wounded personnel and honour fallen heroes. It cautioned that
such narratives could also negatively influence young Nigerians considering
military service.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare and dignity of all personnel who risk their lives in defence of the nation.
Tags: Defence Headquarters, Armed Forces
of Nigeria, Military Welfare, Wounded In Action, Counter Disinformation, Human
Security
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#ArmedForcesOfNigeria #MilitaryWelfare #HumanSecurity #CounterDisinformation
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