On Thursday, a group of Nigerian soldiers who had been released from military service returned to Abuja to protest and demand payment of their rights. Following a meeting with representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Defence, who promised to pay the former soldiers' unpaid entitlements by August 10, the ex-soldiers canceled their protest on August 4.
Following their meeting last month, the ex-servicemen gathered outside the Ministry of Finance offices in the nation's capital and accused the government of being careless and failing to fulfill their commitments.
Mama G, one of the demonstrators, claimed that after earlier promises failed to materialize, they were compelled to return to the streets.
"The promises given to us were never kept, which is why we are here. We were forced to go back to the streets. "There will be a huge protest this time," Mama G said.
The organization has previously staged demonstrations. Due to what they claim is unjust treatment and neglect, former soldiers have gone to the streets of Abuja and other cities on several occasions in recent years.
As of the time this report was filed, the Military Pension Board, Defense Headquarters, and the Ministry of Defense had not yet provided an official reaction.
Details later...