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Nigerian businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has reacted to a viral video of an elderly widow who lamented the hardship faced by soldiers fighting insurgency in Sambisa Forest.
The woman, who identified herself as the wife of a retired soldier and the mother of a serving soldier, emotionally appealed to Nigerian leaders to address the suffering of troops in the field.
Her remarks triggered widespread reactions online after the video began circulating across social media platforms.
Reacting to the clip, Fayose criticized what he described as a growing trend of political elites promoting their own children for leadership positions while the children of ordinary citizens risk their lives in conflict zones.
He said:
“Politicians are trying to install their own children as the next leaders. You can see their children going up and down as if they are the president. As if they are the house of representatives.
But the children of the poor are in Sambisa forest fighting war. Listening to the cry of this widow…”
Widow Laments Struggles of Soldiers in Viral Video
In the emotional video, the elderly woman spoke about the pain of having a son in the military and the sacrifices her family has made over the years.
She said:
“Please, leaders of Nigeria, we are begging you people, our children are in the bush. I tell my son, if he no fit, come back home. God will feed us. My husband do army work. 36 years. 36 years. 36 years. They never encounter this thing. But small, small children are suffering in the bush. Now take our children, they make money. Nigeria leaders, it will never better for you people. It will never better for you people. I tell my son, if you not feel to come back home, don’t be by force. Make her even see my son dead body. Nigerian leaders, Nigerian leaders, Nigerian governments, please do something about our children that are in the bush. Please! I’m an old soldier wife. My son joined army. He died in the bush crying with red tears. Please Nigeria, we are begging you people make Nanolivo. Make Nanolivo our children die every day. Please, please and please make Nan help our children. They are suffering in the bush. Now they sell our children, they take, they make money and then they are dying in the bush. Oh God. God of revengeance. Revenge for our children. Revenge. Revenge. I’m speaking this with heartbreak. To see a soldier crying like this. God, where are you? God of revengeance, please. Arise. Arise. Arise. Thank you. Thank you for listening to me. My husband do 36 years for this army. But still, till today, in remaining money they not pay for and say if they pay. Soja go useless the money, they give an half of the money. See today my husband money sit there hang in their hands. God of revengeance, the God of widows, will stand for me, he will stand for my picking in the bush. Nigeria comment, it will never better for you people. It will never better for you people. It will never better for you people. Thank you. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for listening to me.”
Watch video below …
“Nigerian politicians are positioning their children for better political opportunities, while the children of the pøør are cry!ng in the Sambisa Forest, f!ghting w@rs,”
— Isaac Fayose reacts to the trending video of an elderly woman, a mother of a soldier and wife of an… https://t.co/R1bJFu3a3l pic.twitter.com/QB0wqNzV6Y
— CHUKS
(@ChuksEricE) March 14, 2026