By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigerian Army has urged Nigerians to stop producing drama skits and video clips that cast the military and the security forces in bad light.
The Army made the appeal in a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, on Friday in Abuja.
Musa said that the development had created a wrong impression of Nigerian soldiers and projected it as undisciplined and brutal institution.
“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.
“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.
“It affects troops morale and has a broad implication for national security. No nation or good citizen makes 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.
Musa added that the authorities would also investigate the source of such props and costumes and ensure that army uniforms would not be used to denigrate the military.
According to him, there is no doubt 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.
“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,” he said.
