Army commander asks journalists to report soldiers misused by celebrities

The Commander of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Brigadier-General Ahmad Dikko, has called on journalists to report any soldier seen accompanying celebrities or politicians in an unprofessional or illegal manner.

He appealed during a familiarization visit by members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Barracks in Ohafia on Tuesday.

Dikko, who recently assumed office as the 18th commander of the brigade on February 2, said the army would take immediate action against personnel found engaging in misconduct or duties outside their official responsibilities.

Commander warns against misuse of soldiers

The brigade commander stressed that soldiers are not assigned to serve as personal aides or assistants to private individuals, including celebrities and political figures.

He urged journalists and members of the public to alert the command whenever they observe such behaviour.

“If you see a soldier performing illegal duty, if you see a soldier following a celebrity around, carrying his bag, tell us. I’m serious. We will immediately do something about it. I promise you that,” Dikko said.

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He acknowledged that no organisation is perfect but emphasised that accountability and feedback are essential to improving professionalism within the military.

According to him, constructive criticism and credible information from the media and the public would help the army address misconduct and strengthen discipline among its personnel.

Army seeks stronger collaboration with media

Dikko also highlighted the critical role of journalists in shaping public perception of the military and strengthening civil-military relations.

He described the media as the army’s link to the wider society and stressed the importance of maintaining a cooperative relationship.

“You are our connection, our umbilical cord with the rest of society. We must have you on our side if we are going to succeed,” he said.

He added that security challenges exist globally and cannot be addressed effectively without strong cooperation between security agencies and the media.

Earlier, the Abia State Chairman of the NUJ, Chidi Asonye, who was represented by the Correspondents Chapel Chairman, Felix Obani, commended the brigade for maintaining a cordial relationship with other security agencies in the state.

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He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to supporting the army by ensuring accurate and responsible reporting of military activities, noting that such collaboration would help promote public trust and improve security awareness.

The visit formed part of efforts to strengthen engagement between the military and the media, as the brigade seeks to reinforce discipline, accountability, and transparency within its ranks.