The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu has cautioned personnel of the Nigerian Army against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online engagements could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity, and negatively affect ongoing military operations.

Shaibu gave the warning yesterday during the closing ceremony of the first Regimental Sergeant Majors’ (RSMs) Convention 2026 held in Kaduna.

He, therefore, urged the RSMs to lead from the front by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline, and ensuring strict compliance with established communication protocols within their respective units and formations.

The COAS also charged the senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism, and promote ethical conduct at all levels of command responsibility.

According to him, effective mentorship remains critical to developing a highly motivated, combat-ready, and professionally grounded force.

He further charged the RSMs to deepen and reinforce the warrior ethos as a strategic imperative for sustaining combat power, enhancing operational effectiveness, and ensuring mission success across all formations and units of the Nigerian Army.

Shaibu said the theme of the convention, “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” provided a critical platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences and strategic discourse focused on strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards in support of the transformation drive of the Nigerian Army.

He underscored the strategic importance of RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation and military tradition.

Also, during a training session for Military Police personnel yesterday, the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, Maj. Gen. Mathias Erebulu warned its personnel against using social media, saying soldiers who violate the country’s social media regulations face punishment.

Erebulu directed commanders and officers commanding to return to their formations and reinforce awareness of the consequences of social media abuse among troops.

“Our soldiers have no business being on social media. When they go against the First Social Media Act, they are punished.

“So, it behoves the commanders and officers commanding to go back to their various formations and reiterate the consequences of the abuse of social media,” he said.