Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the 9 Brigade Nigeria Army, in Ikeja, Lagos the Commander of the Brigade, Brigadier – General Adeniyi Oyabade said civilians are not allowed to put on any cloth or kit that will portray them as military personnel, stressing that the warning became necessary due to incessant arrests of people impersonating armed forces personnel in Lagos state. The commander lamented that the major problem is the use of military outfit by youths for social activities.
“You see them when they go to club and party on military camouflage, you see somebody putting on a trouser and a camouflaged T-shirt, it is not allowed we will try as much as possible to make sure that military type of uniforms is meant for the military that will help us improve our daily duties of checking criminality not only in Lagos State but in the country”. He said though there are isolated cases of conflict between the military and the civilians , Oyebade added that it is usual in any environment as vibrant as Lagos.
Oyabade flanked by the Commander of NNS Beacroft, Apapa Commodore Eze Koba and Commander 435 Base Support Group Air Commodore S.J Wulcangha said public sensitization serves as the final warning to the public, saying anyone caught henceforth will be summarily dealt with.
“The whole idea is if any member of the public sees any person in uniform that does not conform largely to what you are seeing today is always good to give the person the benefit of doubt by asking him to show you his ID, but if he behave in a suspicious manner you can report to the nearest police or military base”, he said add.
“But largely members of the public enjoy good relation with the military. In the event that somebody gets maltreated when you have doubt about a person on uniform and you want to clarify things, if the person wearing the uniform is a military personnel you ask that he should identify himself.
“But when that person becomes unnecessarily violent or challenging it is an indication that the person might be an impostor and if you are interested in helping there are things you can do you can talk to any of the policemen within the vicinity or report to any military base,” he added.
