The Military As a Non-Caring Institution: A Case Study of Nigerian Military Widows of the Boko Haram Conflict

Abstract

This study examines the Nigerian Army’s provision of benefits to widows of soldiers killed in the Boko Haram conflict. While military institutions generally offer compensation to bereaved families, the effectiveness of such programs varies. This qualitative research, employing in-depth interviews and focus groups, argues that the Nigerian Army deals with the widows of its fallen soldiers in a bureaucratic and non-caring manner when they access their spousal benefits. This lack of administrative assistance is exacerbated by the widows’ reliance on patronage networks to access their entitlements. These experiences foster a perception of the military as an uncaring institution. The study concludes by urging the Nigerian Army to streamline its bureaucratic processes and eliminate inefficiencies and unprofessional conduct to fulfill its obligations toward fallen soldiers’ families. Failure to do so has severe consequences at various levels for military families, the military, and society.