EXPOSED: Army Commander Allegedly Orders Soldiers at Checkpoints to Remit ₦500,000 Weekly

Soldiers serving with the 133 Special Forces Battalion in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, have accused their Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. A.K. Kachalla, of compelling troops deployed to checkpoints to remit weekly financial “returns” of up to ₦500,000 or risk removal from their posts.

The allegations were made by multiple military sources who spoke on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, citing fear of reprisals.

According to the sources, soldiers are routinely deployed to checkpoints along major routes, including Kano Road, Maiduguri Road, Dambam, and Jama’are, with the expectation that they collect money from motorists and passengers.

“Soldiers are posted to checkpoints to collect money from road users, while the commanding officer waits for a weekly return of ₦500,000,” one source alleged. “If they fail to meet the target, they are immediately withdrawn and replaced with new soldiers.”

Another source described the alleged practice as systemic, claiming it began shortly after Lt. Col. Kachalla assumed command of the battalion.

“Since this commanding officer took over, things have gone from bad to worse,” the source said.

Beyond the alleged extortion, the soldiers also raised concerns about deteriorating living conditions within the barracks. They claimed electricity supply has been drastically reduced, with power available for only about four hours daily.
“In addition to the checkpoint issue, we no longer have regular electricity. We get light for just about four hours in a whole day,” one source said.

The soldiers further alleged that water supply in the barracks has collapsed, placing severe hardship on soldiers and their families.

“There is no water in the barracks at all. Women are suffering seriously just to get water for daily use,” another source said.
The sources contrasted the current situation with conditions under a former commander, Lt. Col. P.O. Mukoro, now a colonel, whom they described as effective and welfare-focused.

“During the time of Lt. Col. P.O. Mukoro, now Col. Mukoro, we enjoyed 24-hour electricity and steady water supply,” a source said. “He is one of the best commanding officers the unit has ever had, and we still miss his leadership.”
The soldiers called on the military high command to urgently intervene, urging the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, to order the removal of Lt. Col. Kachalla as Commanding Officer of the battalion.

They also demanded an independent investigation into the alleged extortion linked to checkpoint deployments.
“The issue of checkpoint deployment returns must be properly investigated,” one source said. “This practice is damaging the image of the Nigerian Army and destroying the morale of soldiers.”