The Defence Headquarters, has advised Nigerians to shun the use of camouflage for now, although it is not against the law for civilians to wear military gear.

For the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the present security situation does not allow the use of military gear by people who are not personnel of the Defence Headquarters.

He gave the clarification in reaction to a question about the crackdown on the use of military gear by civilians.

According to him, the activities of criminals who wear military gear to perpetrate evil acts prompted the armed forces to crack down on the usage of military gear by people.

“The criminals among us have had to take advantage of the military, police, and other security agencies’ gear to perpetrate crime,” said General Irabor.

“We live in a peculiar society – I do not need to restate what the make-up of our society is, what the level of discipline is generally.

“And when you compare it (Nigerian structure) to some places where a few individuals believe that whatever practice goes on in those societies should be replicated here, the other elements of social life in those societies; they do not bring that to bear right here.”

He stressed that the military has no problem with non-personnel wearing its gear, but such must be done with good intention as the safety of the people would be its priority.

General Irabor gave an assurance that the DHQ would continue to take appropriate actions to ensure that Nigerians do not see the military in a bad light when they wear its gear.

“Ordinarily, we will be glad to see that our symbol (gears) is being used for good causes,” he said. “A good number of those who use them have used them for ignoble causes and so, that brings us to a state where you begin to make certain assumptions.

“So, it is better for you to be safe first, then by virtue of your investigations, you can exonerate those who are using them for good causes. This is where we are.”

The Chief of Defence Staff, pledged the loyalty of the military leadership to democratic rule in the country, commended the efforts of military personnel ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

“Today, I believe that Nigerians are no longer in doubt as to the subordination of the military to civil rule; I believe that no one is in doubt that democracy has come to stay,” he said amid the recent military takeover of government in some African countries.

“I believe that no one is in doubt any longer that the current military leadership, and of course, since the democratisation in 1999, that the military is well focused to perform its constitutional roles.”

Recently, some countries on the continent witnessed a forceful takeover of power by the military, including Mali, Guinea, and Sudan.

The people of Guinea were taken by shock on September 5, 2021, when army putschists in the country said they had arrested President Alpha Conde and staged a coup.

Seven weeks later, Sudanese armed forces detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok over his refusal to support their coup on Monday.

Back in the country, General Irabor admitted that some Nigerians might still be struggling with their experience regarding military involvement in politics in the past.

He believes those who have very strong reservations in this regard may not actually give room for escalation of discussions that have to do with repositioning and bringing the military to full focus in terms of what good it has brought to the nation.

Speaking about the significance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the defence chief stressed the need to educate the upcoming generation about the nation’s history

“I am sure you also know that issues that have to do with civic responsibilities still require a little push; I am sure you know that literacy level in the nation still requires a little push; and so when you bring these factors among several other things, you know that quite a lot of work needs to be done,” he said.

“Going forward, I believe that some of these misperceptions that some Nigerians have had with respect to military engagement will begin to change.”