The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General Gold Chibuisi, has cautioned that civilians illegally wearing military uniforms could face arrest and prosecution under Nigerian law.
During a media briefing with defence correspondents on Saturday night in Abuja, Chibuisi emphasized that while non-military personnel (civilians) are prohibited from wearing military attire, the Nigerian Army strictly forbids any violence against violators.
“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 stated.
He explained that soldiers encountering civilians in military camouflage are expected to act professionally: “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.”
Chibuisi further stressed that soldiers have no authority to harass civilians wearing military uniforms unlawfully, revealing that several personnel have been sanctioned for mistreating offenders. “Those we find guilty, and where evidence is available, are always sternly sanctioned,” he added.
The army chief expressed concern over the increasing misuse of military apparel by criminals, warning that it was complicating efforts 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.
Chibuisi urged families and communities to discourage the illegal use of military uniforms at home or in public.
“If somebody you know is not in the military and comes out wearing our uniform to jog or drive somewhere, tell him not to,” he appealed.
Reaffirming the Army’s commitment to the people, Chibuisi remarked, “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 also revealed that the Nigerian Army is stepping up its efforts to strengthen civil-military relations through intensified sensitisation campaigns.
“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.
