Nigerian Army warns against fake videos, cartoons

The Nigerian Army, yesterday, cautioned against clips and graphics depicting the military in bad light over the enforcement of lockdown as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement, described such videos and cartoons as demoralising.

He urged those making such graphics to be cautious, adding that the military was also going to investigate the use of its uniform to perpetrate evil.

The statement read: “There is no doubt that 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.

“Unfortunately, most of these clips circulating on social media bordered on the Nigerian soldier and projecting the military as lawless, brutal and being harsh on people flouting the stay-at-home order pursuant to the lockdown and stay-at-home directives imposed in some states in Nigeria. There is no doubt that these drama skits and video clips denigrate and cast the military and the security forces in a bad light.

“This development creates a wrong impression and general perception of our soldiers negatively and projects 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.”