Navy Recruitment: I Was Disqualified for Finishing First – Man Recounts Painful Experience [VIDEO]
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A viral video has surfaced on social media showing a middle-aged man emotionally recounting how he was disqualified from the Nigerian Navy recruitment exercise in 2012 — not for failing the tests, but for outperforming everyone else.
According to the man, who applied for enlistment into the Nigerian Navy that year, his name was shortlisted, and he was invited to the training and screening exercise held in Kaduna.
During a long-distance race segment of the exercise, he ran with exceptional speed and determination, leaving every other participant far behind.
“When I got to the finish line, it took the second person about 20 minutes to arrive,” he said in the video, visibly emotional.
“But instead of praise, they said the way I ran looked suspicious like a thief. They concluded I must have stolen something before in my life because of how fast I was.”
He claimed that Navy officials told him no one had ever run that fast in the history of their recruitment and, for that reason, they could not employ him.
Reflecting on his motivation, the man said his performance was fueled by his desire to change his life.
“I know where I was coming from. I had suffered. I wanted to change my life at all costs.
“That’s why I ran like that. I wasn’t just running a race, I was running for a new beginning,” he said.
The video has sparked mixed reactions online, with many viewers expressing shock and outrage, while others questioned the rationale behind his disqualification.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Navy has not issued an official response to the claims.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
