A young Nigerian man has taken to social media in distress, alleging that soldiers from the Nigerian Army invaded and damaged his newly completed multimillion-naira residence located in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident, captured in a now-viral TikTok video, has sparked widespread outrage and sympathy across digital platforms.
In the emotional video, the homeowner, who appeared visibly heartbroken, narrated how uniformed men stormed his property with sledgehammers, destroyed the fence, and damaged parts of the fully furnished building without offering any explanation.
“See the house I just finished building. They destroyed the fence and broke the building. As a young boy trying to make something out of life, the Nigerian Army came and demolished my house,” he said in the video.
The man claimed his house was specifically targeted, even though several other structures surrounded the area. His voice, shaking with emotion, conveyed both confusion and despair.
“They didn’t touch any other house… just mine. Why? How will anyone cope in this country?” he lamented.
Nigerians React with Sympathy and Outrage
The video quickly drew massive engagement online, with thousands of users expressing their anger, sadness, and frustration over the man's plight and what they described as a recurring pattern of military impunity and injustice in Nigeria.
Here are some notable reactions from TikTok:
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@35772fgshhshjeh: “Na this country ona say make I nor sell my house travel go abroad 😂😂.”
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@Grace boi 🎉🛐: “😭 Cha I know how much go for here.”
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@💎S💎back_up💎: “I swear even if you’re not depressed, Nigeria 🇳🇬 go make you depressed.”
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@thereallsamsonthegodd: “Na person wey never build house before fit do this kind thing cause he no know the worth. God no go let dem see money build am.”
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@Street Consultant 💻📋📉: “Nigeria is a crime scene, but I assure you people that the day we decide to make things right, we will get it right.”
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@Big Zubby: “He no deh answer question… oga what is your offense before they come the operation?”
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@Favourwise: “Just go and settle with them peacefully, no fighting, no quarrel. Thank God you are alive. God gave you the strength to build; He will give you strength to rebuild.”
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@lawlessness…: “Only the fence is enough for any warning ⚠️… some of them never even fit buy land since them join army 😒.”
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@lucky: “I believe there is a land dispute. Who owns the land? The problem in Benin is people build on land they know belongs to someone else. If you believe the land is yours, go to court to prove it.”
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@dewberry39: “Post this video on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook—everywhere. People will stand with you by God’s grace. This is too much.”
Questions Remain as Authorities Stay Silent
As of the time of this report, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Edo State Government has issued any official statement addressing the allegations. There is also no confirmation yet of whether the incident was tied to a land dispute, an enforcement operation, or mistaken identity.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have urged the young man to seek legal redress, while also encouraging him to document the incident and escalate it through proper channels, including human rights organizations and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
A Growing Trend of Military-Related Property Demolitions?
This case adds to a growing number of reports of alleged human rights violations by security forces, especially relating to land and property issues. Critics argue that unless transparent investigations are conducted and accountability mechanisms are enforced, such incidents may continue unchecked.
In a country where homeownership is considered a major life achievement, many are calling for justice, not just for this young man, but for others who have suffered similar fates in silence.
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