Nde Sati Yilwat, a retired Nigerian soldier and veteran of the Nigerian Civil War, has shared details of the disciplinary measures he said were enforced against soldiers who abandoned the battlefield during the 1967–1970 conflict.
Yilwat made the remarks during an interview on The Yellow Mic Podcast, where he reflected on his experiences as a member of the Nigerian Army during the civil war and discussed the strict military discipline that existed at the time.
According to the retired soldier, desertion was regarded as one of the gravest offences during the war because it endangered the lives of fellow soldiers and could weaken military operations.
He explained that any Nigerian soldier who fled from the battlefield out of fear and was later apprehended by fellow troops faced severe punishment.
Speaking during the interview, Yilwat said, “Any Nigerian soldier who is afraid and runs away from war front, when we get him we arrest him, tie him on the tree and fire him to show to others that nobody should run from war front.”
He continued, “If you run and I run who will fight the war.”
According to Yilwat, the execution of deserters was intended to serve as a deterrent and discourage other soldiers from abandoning their positions during combat.
He explained that commanders believed maintaining discipline on the battlefield was essential to the success of military operations and to ensuring that troops remained committed even in the face of intense fighting.
The retired soldier noted that the fear of punishment reinforced discipline among frontline troops and encouraged soldiers to stand their ground despite the dangers of the war.
Yilwat’s comments provide his personal recollection of military practices during the conflict and have contributed to ongoing discussions about the realities faced by soldiers during the Nigerian Civil War.