The Nigerian Army has again, reiterated that civilians are prohibited from wearing military camouflage.
This reminder follows the circulation of an old video showing a soldier assaulting a civilian for wearing an Army Desert Camouflage uniform.
Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu cautioned that only members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force are legally allowed to wear military camouflage.
He said this rule is important because terrorists and criminals have used military camouflage to commit crimes, creating serious security risks.
“The NA wishes to reiterate that the ban on the unauthorised use of military camouflage remains in full effect. Only personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force are legally permitted to wear military camouflage.
“This regulation becomes expedient as terrorists, insurgents, and other imposters have often exploited the misuse of military camouflage to commit heinous crimes against unsuspecting members of the public, thereby posing significant security threat,” he explained.
The video in question, which recently resurfaced, was originally recorded in 2021. It shows soldiers beating a young man wearing military camouflage.
Nwachukwu explained that the soldier involved was punished for his actions back in 2021, as the Army acted swiftly to address the incident.
“The Nigerian Army has noted the recent circulation of an old video depicting a soldier molesting a civilian for wearing a Nigerian Army Desert Camouflage uniform.
“The NA wishes to clarify that this video footage is a stale audio-visual being recirculated by individuals or content creators either bereft of content or with malicious intent to create tension between the military and the civilian populace.
“The unfortunate incident in question occurred in 2021, and the NA took immediate and decisive action at that time. The soldier involved was arrested, tried, and appropriately punished for his unacceptable behaviour, which violated the core values of the Nigerian Army, particularly the respect for others and their fundamental rights,” he said.
Nwachukwu said the Army remains dedicated to upholding the law and ensuring public safety, calling on the public to ignore the misleading video and remain vigilant against attempts to create discord.
“The NA remains committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.
“We urge the public to disregard the re-circulated video and to remain vigilant against attempts to sow discord and tension within the country,” he said.
