The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, announced that a soldier who insulted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on social media has been arrested. He revealed this while speaking to journalists in Enugu state.
A young soldier was allegedly apprehended by security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy for riding a motorcycle against traffic regulations in Lagos. The video of the incident triggered angry reactions from some military personnel on social media. In a video shared on social media by one of Sanwo-Olu’s media aides, Wale Ajetunmobi, the COAS confirmed that the soldier in question had been arrested, and all other videos where insults were hurled at the governor were not from Army personnel.
Lt. General Lagbaja expressed his deep concern and disapproval of such behavior, emphasizing the military’s commitment to upholding discipline and respect for civil authorities. He stressed that such conduct contradicts the values and professionalism expected of the Nigerian Army. The Chief of Army Staff assured that the soldier involved in the incident had been apprehended and would face appropriate disciplinary measures in line with military regulations.
He reiterated the military’s stance on maintaining cordial and respectful relations with civilian authorities, saying, “I want to say that the soldier that was apprehended by the governor of Lagos state for plying one way does not represent the Nigerian Army. Because, in every respect, he contravened what we stand for, which is discipline as an Army, and it contravenes the constitution and the laws of Lagos. So, we frown at that as an Army. But for what you alleged that soldiers have gone to social media casting aspersions on the person and the office of the governor, it is only one soldier that has done that. The Army has investigated, that soldier has been apprehended and we are investigating. For every comical act that you have seen on social media, they are not personnel of the Nigerian Army.”
Watch the video below: