Sani Usman, a retired brigadier-general and former director of army public relations, has said a viral video showing alleged poor feeding of soldiers was doctored.
Usman spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, where he said preliminary investigations by the Nigerian Army revealed that the soldier involved manipulated the content of the video.
According to him, the soldier reduced the quantity of food and removed the meat before recording and sharing it online.
He added that the soldier is currently being questioned to determine the motive behind the act.
Usman said the Nigerian air force is also reviewing a similar claim involving one of its personnel.
He urged media organisations to exercise caution when reporting such issues, stressing the need for proper verification.
“There is enormous responsibility on gatekeepers in the media to always interrogate such things,” he said.
He explained that feeding arrangements in military units are managed through committees made up of both officers and soldiers, who determine meals based on available resources.
Usman also cautioned against exaggerating claims about troop welfare, noting that some descriptions of soldiers’ meals were misleading.
He said the armed forces operate a structured system of allowances, adding that operational feeding allowances are uniform across ranks.
While acknowledging that the system is not perfect, he insisted that some claims circulating online require careful scrutiny.
He warned that unverified reports could demoralise troops, especially at a time when they are engaged in multiple security operations across the country.
Usman added that public commentary on military welfare should be balanced and based on verified facts to avoid undermining morale.