The Nigerian Army issued a warning to civilians on Sunday, emphasizing that wearing military camouflage remains illegal.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that the ban is due to terrorists and imposters frequently exploiting the misuse of military camouflage.
Nwachukwu stated, “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.”
He further elaborated, “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.
“The NA remains committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.”
Additionally, Nwachukwu addressed a trending video depicting a soldier assaulting a civilian in military attire. He clarified that the incident occurred in 2021 and that the involved soldier was punished at that time.
He commented, “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.”
