A dramatic scene unfolded on Monday when soldiers stormed the home of Colonel Audu Ogli Achigili and forcefully arrested him in the presence of his family, shortly after he publicly accused the Nigerian Army of denying him a promotion to Brigadier General.
Videos circulating online show soldiers arriving at his residence and dragging him into a waiting vehicle, as his distressed son cried out,
“See how they are dragging my father!” Another clip captured the boy alleging that “a sergeant was paid” to execute the arrest and expressing fear that “they want to kill my dad.”
The arrest came barely 24 hours after Colonel Achigili released a detailed account of his frustration with the Army’s failure to implement his 2023 promotion approved by the Army Council.
He said the delay was linked to a land dispute in his Benue community involving the clan head, Dr. John Ochai, whom he accused of influencing former Military Secretary, Maj. Gen. Gabriel Ochigbano (rtd), to block his elevation.
Colonel Achigili highlighted his decades of service, citing his roles in major operations including Operation Hadin Kai in the North East, Operation Harmony in the Bakassi Peninsula, and peacekeeping missions in Darfur.
He also recalled participating in restoring order during the 2001 OPC crisis in Lagos under then-Governor Bola Tinubu, noting that he nearly lost his life during the Ikeja cantonment bomb blast.
He described his record as “unblemished,” adding that he had received multiple awards over the years.
The senior officer further accused the Army of skewing recent promotion exercises in favour of “godsons,” claiming that members of Course 41 were sidelined while juniors were elevated.
He warned that such practices undermine professionalism and morale within the force.
According to him, education officers were being promoted over combat officers, and the declining quality of education in military schools was forcing soldiers to send their children to private schools outside the barracks.
Achigili appealed for urgent intervention to ensure the implementation of his promotion before his compulsory retirement date, insisting that favoritism and delayed promotions were damaging the morale of officers who had risked their lives for the nation.
As of press time, the Nigerian Army has not issued an official statement regarding his arrest.
The incident continues to generate widespread reactions online, with many demanding clarification from military authorities.
