The Nigerian Army has warned its personnel against using social media, saying soldiers who violate the country’s social media regulations face punishment.
The warning was issued by the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu, during a training seminar for Military Police personnel, which was reported by the African Independent Television on Thursday.
Erebulu directed commanders and officers commanding to return to their formations and reinforce awareness of the consequences of social media abuse among troops.
He stated that “Our soldiers have no business being on social media, when they go against the First Social Media Act, they are punished.”
“So, it behoves the commanders and officers commanding to go back to their various formations and reiterate the consequences of the abuse of social media,” he said.
The general also reminded personnel of the constitutional limits on detaining civilians in military facilities, directing that any civilian arrested by soldiers must be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours after preliminary investigation.
He emphasized that “By virtue of the constitution, we are not supposed to have civilians detained in our facility.”
“So, they are reminded that once a civilian is arrested, after doing the due diligence of investigating, within 24 hours, you must hand over that civilian to the agency that’s in charge,” Erebulu said.
The seminar, which focused on operational discipline among Military Police personnel, was broadcast on AIT’s flagship morning programme, Kakaaki.
