Festus Igenkhai, a lance corporal in the Nigerian Army, known online as “Ex-Man,” has been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army after releasing a viral TikTok video urging President Bola Tinubu to hold the country’s service chiefs accountable for the persistent insecurity plaguing Nigeria.
It was learnt that Igenkhai, who reportedly deserted his post in November 2024, is under investigation for multiple breaches of military conduct, including desertion and violations of the Armed Forces’ strict social media policy.
His military records show that he was enlisted less than four years ago.
The controversy began to spiral after Nigerian security analyst Zagazola Makama posted an article on the microblogging platform X, accusing Igenkhai of “going rogue” and “chasing clout on social media.”
According to the report, the soldier had twice faced internal disciplinary proceedings for sharing unauthorised content online.
The Army declared him Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) after he allegedly abandoned duty on November 8, 2024.
“In a string of delusional videos, he peddles unsubstantiated claims and half-baked conspiracy theories,” Makama wrote, branding Igenkhai a “fugitive” who “betrayed his oath” and now seeks attention by disparaging the military institution that once gave him “pride, purpose, and uniform.”
But it was his emotionally charged video titled “Letter to Mr President”, published just hours before the Army reportedly began investigating him, that pushed him into the national spotlight.
In the 10-minute monologue delivered in a mix of English and Nigerian Pidgin, Igenkhai implored President Tinubu to “call service chiefs to order” over their failure to curb insecurity in the country.
“They don too see peace, dem don too tey for air condition,” he said, accusing top-ranking officers of becoming complacent and detached from the frontline.
He alleged that many high-ranking officials, especially in the Army and Air Force, were either inactive or abroad while insecurity rages across the country.
Igenkhai called for a performance-based task system where generals and commanding officers would be assigned states to secure. Failure to meet the objectives, he suggested, should result in immediate retirement.
“Give every of them tasks for each state… Any person wey no fit accomplish that task, retire am. Be you a Major General or a Lieutenant General… if una no fit flush out the bad eggs, retire the person. Put the next person,” he urged.
The soldier also accused some generals of planning mutiny by allowing insecurity to fester. “Officers too many for inside Army… Dem no see where dem dey chop, so therefore, dem dey plan mutiny against this country,” he claimed, without offering evidence.
Security experts have criticised the viral video as misleading and potentially harmful to military morale. Multiple military sources insisted that Igenkhai’s claims lack any substantiating evidence and accused him of exploiting social media to misrepresent internal challenges.
A nationwide manhunt was reportedly underway for Igenkhai, with security forces working to apprehend him. If found guilty of desertion and other misconduct, he could face court-martial and significant disciplinary penalties under military law.
