By Augustine Osayande PhD
The Nigeria Army on Friday warned against depicting soldiers and the military as brutal and lawless in drama skits and video clips to entertain the public.
The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement said most of the clips circulating on social media projected the military as lawless, brutal and harsh on people flouting the stay-at-home order.
“There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a variety of measures to stem its spread in our country.
“Some of these measures include restriction of movement, lockdown and stay at home directives which are being enforced by various government and security agencies.
“Some creative Nigerians found it expedient to provide comic relief through the production of funny jokes, graphics, drama skits and video clips to entertain the public.
“The materials are circulated through social media, there is no doubt this drama skit and video clips denigrate and cast the military and the security forces in a bad light,” Musa said.
The Army spokesman added that the development created a wrong impression and general perception of the soldiers negatively and projected them as undisciplined and brutal, thus, creating an erroneous impression of the military.
“We are well trained and dedicated professionals that perform our Constitutional duties diligently and dispassionately with utmost regards for human rights and rules of engagement,” he said.
Musa further stated that it was wrong to continue to produce such drama skits, video clips and graphics at the expense of the excellent image of the Nigerian soldier.
“It affects troop’s morale and has a broad implication for national security. No nation or good citizen make jest of its military.
“Therefore, we are appealing to well-meaning Nigerians and producers of such materials to desist forthwith.
“The 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,” he said
The Army spokesman retreated that the soldiers would continue to discharge their constitutionally-assigned tasks professionally, respecting human rights and rules of engagement.
He said the Nigerian Army would also investigate the source of such props and costumes and ensure that military uniforms were not used to denigrate the military.
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