Abuja, Nigeria – November 14, 2025:
The Nigerian Army is facing public uproar following the dismissal of a highly experienced soldier, known as “King Dino” or “Wisdom Man,” who served for 19 years. According to claims made in a video posted online by a figure known as “The Moon,” the soldier joined the military in 2006 and was later removed on charges of cultism and insubordination.
In the video, The Moon repudiates the cultism allegation, arguing that it defies logic for someone supposedly involved in secret cult activity to actively engage in combat against Boko Haram insurgents on the front lines. The Moon questions how a soldier who “does cultism himself” could simultaneously risk his life fighting terrorists “inside the bush.”
He further asserts that King Dino’s bank account was frozen for a year, cutting off his access to pay before he was eventually dismissed. The Moon suggests this move was part of a pattern of mistreatment, asserting that the soldier was demoted just before being dismissed.
The Moon insists King Dino was not only a brave and committed soldier but also a mentor to younger troops. He credits him with having fought courageously in Nigeria’s Northeast, earning respect and trust among his peers.
Critics have seized on the case as emblematic of systemic problems within the Nigerian military. They argue that targeting a long-serving and battle-hardened soldier on such serious but possibly unfounded charges could severely damage morale within the armed forces.
There has been no response from the Nigerian Army in the video, and it remains unclear whether a transparent investigatory or judicial process was followed in the decision to dismiss King Dino.
The controversy threatens to escalate, with calls from veterans, civil society, and the public for accountability and clarity.