The Defence Headquarters Nigeria has defended the arrest of social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, insisting the action was necessary to safeguard national security and maintain discipline within the military.
In a detailed statement issued by civil-military relations expert Tijjani Tanko, the military argued that Nigeria’s current security challenges require caution regarding the spread of information online.
According to the statement, the country remains actively engaged in battles against terrorism and banditry, making military morale and discipline a sensitive matter.
The Defence Headquarters claimed that Justice Crack went beyond merely highlighting welfare concerns and instead encouraged soldiers to question military leadership and disobey orders.
“He did not merely amplify complaints… he actively urged soldiers to question their commanders’ legitimacy, refuse orders, and post videos attacking military hierarchy,” the statement said.
The military further alleged that some soldiers admitted receiving payments to publicly share grievances that should have been handled through official internal channels.
Officials also stressed that the influencer was not subjected to military trial procedures, noting that he was handed over to civilian authorities for prosecution through the regular legal system.
Rejecting accusations of suppressing free speech, the Defence Headquarters distinguished between whistleblowing and what it described as attempts to undermine military operations.
The statement warned that viral content portraying soldiers as abandoned or poorly treated could be exploited by insurgent groups to weaken troop morale and encourage desertion.
According to the military, maintaining trust within the chain of command is critical during combat operations, and content capable of eroding that trust could have dangerous consequences on the battlefield.
The Defence Headquarters concluded by stating that while public criticism of military policies remains acceptable, direct attempts to incite serving personnel against their superiors would not be tolerated under the law.