The Nigerian Navy has said that it detained Naval officer and Instagram Comedian, Ahmed Gafar aka Cute Abiola, and he is not missing as widely reported.
A statement by the Director of Information, Navy Headquarters, Commodore Suleman Dahun, said Cute Abiola was taken into custody for violating and breaching Armed Forces of Nigeria social media policy.
According to the statement, Navy personnel are not allowed to post pictures of themselves or of their colleagues in military uniform.
Also, Dahun revealed that the skit-maker flouted a direct order to report to the office.
The statement reads: “Cute Abiola is not missing !!! He is in custody for breaching Armed Forces Social Media Policy.
”The young man was found to have breached the social media policy while he was on leave. So he was recalled, asked to come back, but he refused until he completed his leave which is a disobedience to particular orders”.
The Armed Forces Act 2017 provides guidelines on social media use to curb undignified use of social media by members of the Armed Forces, especially acts that could render them susceptible to enemies’ trap or jeopardise ongoing military operations.
Personnel should not post their pictures or those of their colleagues in military uniforms, or pictures containing military structures, platforms and other military related items.”
“Personnel will be held liable for any security issues arising from postings in respect of them by civilian friends or relations. They are therefore, to educate their friends and relations as necessary regarding military security and what should not be posted on social media,” the guideline says in part.
