By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
The Nigerian Army has warned members of the public who has found pleasure in depicting, visualising and putting the name of the military in bad light through their dramas and skits.
Col. Sagir Musa, Acting Director, Army Public Relations made this known in an official statement made available to Enugu Reporters on Friday.
According to him, some creative Nigerians were expedient to provide comic relief through the production of funny jokes, graphics, drama skits and video clips to entertain the public at the expense of the security personnel who are enforcing those restrictions, lockdown and stay at home orders given by the government in a bid to stop the spread of corona virus in the country.
He said the materials are misleading and does not tell well about the law abiding institution like the military.
Col. Sagir in a statement highlighted that, there are series of dramas and skits, video clips among others trending on social media projecting projecting the military as being lawless, brutal and harsh on people flouting the presidential directive of stay at home to contain with the spread of corona virus in the country.
According to him, the development creates a wrong impression and general perception of the soldiers negatively and projects them as undisciplined and brutal. Thus, creating an erroneous impression of the military.
He explained that ,the Nigerian military (Army) are well trained and are dedicated professionals that do perform its Constitutional duties diligently and dispassionately with utmost regards for human rights and rules of engagement.
He therefore opined that it is wrong to continue to produce such drama skits, video clips and graphics at the expense of the excellent image of the Nigerian soldier.
This ,according to him affects troops morale and has a broad implication for national security as no nation or good citizen make jest of its military.
He therefore appealed to the well-meaning Nigerians and producers of such materials to desist from it forthwith.
He advised that the Nigerian military or security agencies should not be made the subject or focus of those skits at the expense of a key and strategic arm of the security architecture of our great nation.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations therefore pledged the resolve and commitment of the military towards keeping the rules of engagement to making sure Nigeria and Nigerians are safe.
“On our part, we will continue to discharge our Constitutionally assigned tasks professionally respecting human rights and rules of engagement.
“We will also investigate the source of such props and costumes and ensure that military uniforms will not be used to denigrate the military”.
