Adie Paul, a Nigerian soldier, has expressed concerns about the national honors, lands, and flats given to the Super Eagles football team for their performance in the recently concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team finished in second place after losing to the Ivory Coast’s Elephants in the finals on Sunday, February 11.
Paul questioned why the Super Eagles were being honored while soldiers fighting insurgents in the Northeast were seemingly ignored by the government.
He shared his frustration on social media, highlighting the disparity in recognition between athletes and military personnel.
Paul stated that he had suffered injuries while serving in the Northeast. He claimed to have been shot and still carries the bullet inside him to this day. However, he did not receive any medal or recognition from the Army or the Nigerian government for his service.
He wrote on X: “Yet, as a soldier, I stayed in the northeast fighting Boko Haram for four years plus, I was shot, and I am still carrying the bullet in me till date, not even a medal from the Army/Nigeria government.”