A grieving family says they are being asked to pay ₦2 million before the remains of their son, a Nigerian Army officer who died after illness, can be transported home for burial, raising concerns over military burial procedures.
“My family is currently going through something heartbreaking. This grave was prepared for my brother, right next to where our father was buried.
My brother was a serving member of the Nigerian Army. He enlisted at the age of 20 and was stationed in Benin before he became ill and sadly passed away.
What has left us devastated is being told that we must pay ₦2 million before his body can be brought home for burial. We were informed that the money is needed for transportation, and that his remains will not be released or conveyed to our hometown unless the payment is made.
As far as I know, when a serving soldier dies, the military usually takes responsibility for transporting the body back to the family, regardless of where the death occurred. That was my understanding, especially because our late father was also a soldier.
Now, everything has been prepared for my brother’s burial, but his body is still not here because we are being asked to provide ₦2 million first.
I don’t know if the policy has changed, but this situation has left our family confused, frustrated, and heartbroken.”
— Woman alleges that the Nigerian Army requested ₦2 million before transporting her late brother’s body home for burial
