By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has warned newly enlisted soldiers against violating the Nigerian Army’s social media policy.

He cautioned the 2,989 recruits that the unauthorised posting of operational information or military activities on social media could attract severe disciplinary sanctions, including dismissal from service.

Shaibu gave the warning on Wednesday during the passing-out parade of the pioneer set of regular recruits trained at the newly established Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot, Amasiri-Edda, in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

He cautioned the recruits against sharing operational information, images of military activities, sensitive locations or unverified content on social media, describing such actions as a grave breach of military regulations.

He said: “A growing trend of indiscretion on social media has had serious consequences for Army personnel. The unauthorized posting of operational information, images of military activities, sensitive locations, as well as the dissemination of unverified and misleading content constitute a serious breach of extant regulations.

“Let me be clear, violations of the social media policy can and will result in disciplinary action, including dismissal from service where necessary.”

According to him, such misconduct not only destroys the career, honour and livelihood of individual soldiers but also undermines discipline, operational security, morale and the institutional credibility of the Nigerian Army.

He urged the recruits to exercise restraint, maturity and responsibility in their use of social media while operating within the framework of human rights principles and the rules of engagement in all military operations.

The Army chief described the ceremony as historic, noting that it marked the graduation of the pioneer recruits of the Amasiri-Edda Depot, established on November 25, 2025, as the third Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot and the first primary military training institution in the South-East.

He said the establishment of the depot reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to national cohesion, inclusivity and balanced development across the country.

Shaibu disclosed that the graduating soldiers are part of the first batch of 14,000 recruits under the Federal Government’s strategic force expansion initiative, which will raise the Army’s strength by 28,000 personnel as approved by President Bola Tinubu.

He commended President Tinubu for approving the establishment of the depot and providing the resources required for its successful take-off, saying the initiative would significantly strengthen the Nigerian Army’s manpower and operational capacity.

The COAS also lauded Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for supporting the establishment of the depot, saying the governor had “written his name in gold as one of the founding fathers” of the institution.

He praised the commandant, instructors and training staff for transforming the recruits into disciplined soldiers prepared to support counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other internal security operations across the country.

While congratulating the new soldiers, Shaibu reminded them that their training was only the foundation of their military careers and urged them to remain disciplined, loyal and professional in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

He also appealed to leaders, parents and traditional rulers in the South-East to encourage more young men and women to enlist in the Nigerian Army, lamenting that recruitment quotas allocated to the region had consistently remained underutilised.

“For some time now, the recruitment quota from this zone has not been fully utilised. This should not continue. Military service is not just a career but an honourable endeavour of patriotism, leadership and national contribution,” he said.

Governor Francis Nwifuru, in his remarks, described the passing-out parade as a historic milestone for the Nigerian Army, Ebonyi State and the nation.

He said the establishment of the training depot had begun to enhance security, stimulate economic activities, improve infrastructure and strengthen civil-military relations in the state.

The governor reaffirmed Ebonyi State’s commitment to sustaining its partnership with the Nigerian Army by providing a peaceful environment for training and military operations.

Nwifuru also requested the release of a portion of the Army’s 989.7 hectares of land in Abakaliki to facilitate the planned expansion and radial development of the state capital.

In return, he pledged that the state government would support the depot with the construction of an emergency ward, a main hospital and administrative block, a maternity ward, additional treatment wards, a morgue, walkways, a theatre, a generator house and two 50,000-litre solar-powered boreholes.

He further appealed to the Army authorities to facilitate the completion and equipping of the proposed Military Referral Hospital in Abakaliki to serve the South-East region.

A total of 3,011 recruits commenced the training in January, out of which 2,989 successfully completed the programme.

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