Nigerian Army Warns Soldiers: Social Media Misuse Will Trigger Discipline

The Nigerian Army has warned its personnel that any breach of regulations governing online conduct will be met with disciplinary action. The caution was delivered by Army Provost Marshal Major General Mathias Erebulu during a training seminar for Military Police officers, as reported by African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday.

Erebulu instructed commanders and officers responsible for each formation to return to their units and intensify briefings on the ramifications of social‑media misuse. “Our soldiers have no business being on social media. When they go against the First Social Media Act, they are punished,” he said, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to the established rules.

The provost marshal also reminded troops of the constitutional requirement to release civilians detained in military custody. He stipulated that any civilian arrested by the army must be transferred to the appropriate law‑enforcement agency within 24 hours after preliminary investigations, noting, “By virtue of the constitution, we are not supposed to have civilians detained in our facility.”

The seminar, which focused on reinforcing operational discipline among Military Police personnel, was broadcast on AIT’s morning programme, Kakaaki. The Army’s directive underscores ongoing efforts to curb the spread of unauthorized information and to ensure that military conduct aligns with national legal frameworks.

The warning follows a broader push by the Nigerian defense establishment to tighten control over digital communications and to prevent the potential security risks associated with unregulated social‑media activity by service members. Commanders are now tasked with implementing comprehensive awareness campaigns across all formations to ensure compliance and avoid punitive measures.