The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi, has warned that civilians caught wearing military uniforms illegally risk arrest and prosecution, in line with Nigerian law.
Speaking during a media chat with defence correspondents on Saturday night in Abuja, Chibuisi reiterated that while it is unlawful for non-military personnel to don military attire, the Nigerian Army does not condone violence against offenders.
‘It is against the law of the land. If you are not in the armed forces, please don’t use our uniform, whether you love it or not’, Chibuisi said.
‘If our troops encounter anyone dressed in military camouflage, they are to get the person to remove it, arrest them, and hand them over to the police for prosecution. All these other things that come with it — like assault — are not right’.
The army chief, said soldiers have no right to harass any civilian caught wearing the military uniform, saying several soldiers had been sanctioned for mishandling civilians found in military gear, stressing that professionalism must guide all enforcement actions.
‘Those we find guilty, and where evidence is available, are always sternly sanctioned’, he added.
Chibuisi appealed to the public to respect the military uniform, warning that the increasing misuse of military apparel by criminals was making it harder for citizens and security agencies to distinguish genuine soldiers from impostors.
‘Currently, there are a lot of criminals using military garb to perpetrate crime. If people keep dressing like that, how do you differentiate between a criminal and a genuine soldier?’ he queried.
He called on families and communities to discourage the illegal wearing of military uniforms at home and in public spaces.
‘If somebody you know is not in the military and comes out wearing our uniform to jog or drive somewhere, tell him not to’, Chibuisi urged.
The army chief also emphasised that the Nigerian Army belongs to the people and should not be viewed with fear or suspicion.
‘There is no army that doesn’t want to be seen as working for the people. We are the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian people own us’, he said.
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen trust, Chibuisi said the Army was intensifying its sensitisation campaigns among troops and the general public to promote better civil-military relations.
‘We are fine-tuning the conduct of our personnel, and I believe that as we continue to interact, the relationship will keep improving’, he stated.
