Soldiers should not be on social media, Army general warns

Soldiers should not be on social media, Army general warns

The Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to its personnel against using social media, emphasizing that soldiers who violate the country’s social media regulations will face punishment

The warning was delivered by the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu, during a training seminar for Military Police personnel, as reported by African Independent Television on Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Erebulu instructed commanders and officers in charge to return to their units and reinforce awareness about the consequences of social media misuse among troops.

“Our soldiers have no business being on social media. When they violate the Social Media Act, they are punished,” he stated. “It is imperative for commanders and officers commanding to go back to their formations and reiterate the consequences of social media abuse.”

The general also reminded personnel of the constitutional limits regarding the detention of civilians in military facilities. He directed that any civilian arrested by soldiers must be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours following a preliminary investigation.

“By virtue of the constitution, civilians are not supposed to be detained in our facilities. Once a civilian is arrested and due diligence is done during the investigation, they must be handed over to the responsible agency within 24 hours,” Erebulu emphasized.

The seminar focused on promoting operational discipline among Military Police personnel.