By Paul Joseph
The Nigerian Army has issued a strong warning to its personnel, cautioning soldiers against the use of social media, and stating that those who violate existing regulations on online conduct will face disciplinary action.
The warning was delivered on Thursday by the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu, during a training seminar for Military Police personnel.
He emphasized that soldiers are prohibited from engaging in social media activities that breach military rules and operational guidelines.
The directive came from Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu and applies to all personnel of the Nigerian Army, particularly those under active service across various formations.
The warning was addressed to commanders, officers commanding, and rank-and-file soldiers.
The statement was made during a military police training seminar, which was reported to have been covered by African Independent Television (AIT) and broadcast on the programme Kakaaki.
The warning was issued on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the training session held for Military Police personnel.
According to the Army leadership, the restriction is aimed at:
Strengthening operational discipline among troops
Preventing the misuse of sensitive information online
Ensuring compliance with military social media regulations
Protecting national security and institutional integrity
Maj. Gen. Erebulu stressed that violations of social media rules are subject to punishment under existing military codes.
The Provost Marshal directed commanders and officers to return to their respective units and reinforce awareness of the consequences of improper social media use among soldiers.
He urged strict supervision and continuous reorientation of personnel on digital conduct.
He warned that any soldier who breaches the regulations would be sanctioned in line with military disciplinary procedures.
Beyond social media conduct, the Provost Marshal also reminded personnel of constitutional limits regarding civilian detention.
He stated that any civilian arrested by soldiers must be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours after preliminary investigation.
He reiterated that military facilities are not designated detention centres for civilians under Nigerian law.
The Nigerian Army says the renewed warning forms part of broader efforts to maintain professionalism, discipline, and operational security within the armed forces, as well as to ensure compliance with constitutional and institutional standards governing military conduct.
Leave a Reply