A civil society organisation, the Centre for Civil Relations, Open Dialogue and Development (C-CODED), has accused Lance Corporal Festus Igenkhai, a soldier who recently took to social media with allegations against senior military officers, of being part of a coordinated plot to destabilise Nigeria’s national security architecture.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Thaddeus Philip, C-CODED described Igenkhai as a “deserter and serial lawbreaker” who has weaponised digital platforms to spread falsehoods aimed at undermining the leadership of the Armed Forces.
According to the group, Igenkhai’s claims that commanders of the 4SF Command were depriving soldiers of their welfare and allowances were “deliberately misleading, defamatory, and orchestrated to incite distrust within the military and among the Nigerian public.”
“This is not whistleblowing; this is an orchestrated act of blackmail,” the statement added.
C-CODED alleged that Igenkhai is being used by unidentified political or ideological actors to carry out a broader campaign of misinformation targeted at military institutions.
“To propagate such false allegations is a sinister agenda and is not only desperate but reveals the dark motives behind this campaign of misinformation.
“We believe that Lance Corporal Igenkhai is being used as a willing pawn in a wider scheme by an as-yet-unidentified political or ideological network aimed at destabilizing the military’s leadership, eroding public trust, and inciting dissatisfaction within the ranks,” the group said.
The organisation said it was deeply concerned by the growing trend of social media being used by disgruntled individuals to circulate unverified claims with potentially grave consequences.
The statement reads further, “Contrary to his self-crafted image as a “whistleblower,” Festus Igenkhai is a serving soldier who deserted duty, flouted the military chain of command, and violated the rules and procedures governing armed service. He has a troubling disciplinary record and has allegedly been found wanting in acts that could amount to sabotage of active military operations, a grave offence under military law.
“Rather than face a formal inquiry or defend himself through lawful channels, Igenkhai chose the coward’s path: he fled from his unit and has since been hiding behind the anonymity and chaos of the digital space to discredit senior officers with unfounded allegations.”
C-CODED called on the Nigerian military to swiftly re-arrest and prosecute Igenkhai for desertion and gross misconduct, stressing that leniency would set a dangerous precedent and embolden others to act with impunity.
C-CODED further urged the authorities to investigate the individuals or groups behind the viral allegations, while calling on media organisations and influencers to uphold higher standards of verification before disseminating sensitive claims online.
“Nigeria must not become a society where deserters are celebrated while those who serve loyally are vilified,” the group said.
C-CODED reaffirmed its support for the Nigerian Armed Forces, pledging to stand by institutions that uphold national integrity and democratic stability.