Nigerian Army Warns Soldiers Against Social Media Use, Threatens Disciplinary Action

(Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu. Photo credit: Facebook)

The Nigerian Army has issued a warning to its soldiers not to use social media and has threatened to punish those who do so.

African Independent Television reported on Thursday that Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu, the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, delivered the warning during a training session for Military Police soldiers.

Erebulu instructed commanders and officers in charge to go back to their formations and remind soldiers of the repercussions of abusing social media.

"It is not appropriate for our soldiers to use social media. They are penalized when they violate the First Social Media Act.

He stated, "Therefore, it is the responsibility of the commanders and officers in charge to return to their different formations and reiterate the consequences of the abuse of social media."

The general also instructed staff that any civilian detained by soldiers must be turned over to the proper law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the preliminary investigation, reminding them of the constitutional restrictions on holding civilians in military installations.

"We are not allowed to hold people at our facility due to the constitution.

"Therefore, they are reminded that once a civilian is arrested, you have to turn them over to the responsible agency within 24 hours after conducting the necessary investigation," Erebulu stated.

The course, which addressed operational discipline among Military Police officers, was televised on Kakaaki, AIT's main morning show.