The Nigerian Army has strongly condemned the assault of civilians found unlawfully wearing military uniforms, emphasizing that such behavior from troops is unacceptable.
Major General Gold Chibuisi, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, made this clear while fielding questions from media in Abuja on Saturday. While reaffirming that it’s illegal for non-military individuals to wear military attire, he stressed that soldiers must act within the law when addressing such violations.
“Anyone not serving in the armed forces has no right to wear military uniforms,” Chibuisi stated. “However, soldiers must respond professionally identify the individual, confiscate the uniform, arrest them, and hand them over to the police for proper prosecution.”
He noted that troops who have assaulted civilians in these situations have been disciplined. “We’ve sanctioned those involved and will continue to uphold accountability,” he said.
Chibuisi also warned the public against wearing military clothing, noting that it is commonly misused by criminals to impersonate soldiers and carry out illegal activities.
“When military uniforms are worn indiscriminately, it becomes harder to distinguish real soldiers from impostors,” he explained.
He appealed to families and communities to discourage the use of military attire by unauthorized persons, urging, “If you see someone wearing it illegally, advise them to stop.”
Reaffirming the Army’s role as a protector of the people, Chibuisi said, “The Nigerian Army belongs to the citizens. We are here to serve, not intimidate.”
He concluded by highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen civil-military relations through both internal and public sensitization initiatives.