We are been cheated of our $2,000 by our superior -Nigerian soldiers from Mali operation

Soldiers, who returned from Mali operation
and deployed to North-Eastern states have
alleged that they were being short-changed
by their superiors of over 2000 dollars out
of their allowances from the Mali operation.
A soldier, who did not want his name in
print said over 100 soldiers who recently
returned from the UN-backed special
operation in northern Mali, the first batch
were deployed to the Northern States as
soon as they arrived.
According to him, the deployment was in
an effort to strengthen the on-going
counter-insurgency operation of the
Nigerian Army in Borno State.
He alleged that many of the soldiers’
operation allowances in Mali part of which
were paid to them on arrival, were slashed.
“They know we cannot protest because of
the rule of engagement and they cheated
on us after we have risked our lives, left
our families for seven months.
“We were told that each person
that participated in the Mali
operation was expected to be paid about
N164, 500 ($1028), totaling over $7, 000 US
dollar for the seven months operation. But
instead we were paid between $5,000 and
$5,420 US dollar without any explanation
even as some soldiers who went to the
operation with their bosses (officers) or
‘those who have god-father’ received full
payment”, he complained.
The pay army officers were said to have
told them they were instructed by their
superiors to pay the sum given to the
returnee soldiers.
“When we asked what happened to the
balance of over $2,000 dollars, the pay
officers simply told us that it was what they
were instructed to do. It is sad that our
ogas are treating us like this and feeding fat
on us on the field”, one of the soldiers said.
Efforts however, by informationlocker to get the
military authorities to comment on the
allegation proved abortive.