Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, has confirmed the arrest of a soldier who insulted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on social media. The announcement was made during a conversation with journalists in Enugu state on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
The incident originated from the apprehension of a young soldier riding a motorcycle against traffic regulations in Lagos by security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy. The subsequent video sparked outrage among some military personnel on social media.
In a video shared on behalf of Governor Sanwo-Olu by media aide Wale Ajetunmobi, COAS Lagbaja clarified that the soldier in question did not represent the values of the Nigerian Army. Expressing deep concern, he emphasized the military’s commitment to upholding discipline and respect for civil authorities.
COAS Lagbaja distanced the Army from other videos circulating on social media where insults were directed at the governor, asserting that they were not from Army personnel. He underscored that such behavior contradicts the professionalism expected of the Nigerian Army.
Assuring the public of swift action, COAS Lagbaja confirmed that the implicated soldier 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, stating, “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… For every comical act that you have seen on social media, they are not personnel of the Nigerian Army.”
