The Nigerian Navy has reacted to reports that it locked up popular Instagram skit maker Ahmed Gafar aka Cute Abiola who was declared missing by his relatives on Monday November 15.
According to the Director of Information, Navy Headquarters, Cdre Suleman Dahun, 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,” he explains.
He reiterated that Cute Abiola was not missing but locked up in his unit for breaching the “Armed Forces social media policy.”
“So, when he came back, we took him into custody for him to face the consequences,” Mr Dahun added.
READ ALSO: Comedian Cute Abiola is not missing – Nigerian Navy says
Cute Abiola, a naval officer, was last seen on Monday morning after he left his residence for his office at Navy Town.
He was said to have spoken with his wife over the telephone upon arrival at the office, but several attempts to reach him afterwards were unsuccessful.
According to Mr Dahun, naval officers have been cautioned against making certain information public on social media by sharing photos.
According to Dahun, 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,” said one of the slew of cautions in the guidelines.
The guidelines also include a ‘Dos and Don’ts’ section, which encouraged officers to always ‘like’ postings by all institutions of the Armed Forces but must not use social media languages such as “LWKMD, LMAO, LOL, OMG, BRB in professional posts.”
Military personnel were also required to warn their family members against controversial conducts on social media.
“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 guidelines said
Last year, Cute Abiola was arrested for posing in his navy uniform on his birthday.