The Nigerian Navy has said that naval personnel and popular skitmaker, Abdulgafar Ahmad, aka Cute Abiola, is currently being detained for posting a video of himself in military uniform on social media, an act which is in violation of the armed forces’ social media policy.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Suleiman Dahun, said, “There is an armed forces social media policy that was promulgated by the defense headquarters, and its principal regulation is that military personnel should not post photos or videos of themselves in uniform while engaging in personal or official activities. Military personnel are also not allowed to make comments or share official military decisions, activities or operations on social media.
They are also not allowed to forward materials on social media. Copies of the policy are available with the Director of Defense Information. It is not a restricted document, so it can be made available to anyone who needs it.”
Speaking on what Abiola did to warrant his punishment, Dahun said, “When we got the clip wherein he violated the policy, we asked him to come back to explain himself but he did not return. His commanding officer called him to explain himself concerning the video clip but he ignored his commander and didn’t return until his leave was over.
When he returned, he was put in custody. If he had come back when he was called upon to explain himself, we would not be discussing this. We (the military) are not in an animal farm. We are human beings too but laws have to be obeyed.”
Concerning whether military personnel were allowed to be in the entertainment industry, a top source in the Navy, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Entertainment is a form of business and even the civil service does not allow its officials to have a side business.
Ahmad would be tried first and if found guilty, he would get his due punishment.
