Insecurity: NSA orders paramilitary services to stop wearing camouflage uniforms

Worried by the alarming rate of insecurity in the country, the National Security Adviser to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has ordered the immediate stoppage of the personnel of certain Para-Military Services from wearing camouflage uniforms henceforth.

A competent source in the security circle told Nigerian Tribune in Abuja on Saturday that Mallam Ribadu’s directive was contained in a circular dated 16th Jan 2024 and addressed to the Honorable Minister of Interior for full enforcement.

The Circular directed the Federal Ministry of Interior to immediately withdraw all camouflage uniforms from security and law enforcement agencies under its supervision.

The circular titled “Observation on Proliferation in the Use of Camouflage Uniforms by Other Security Agencies in Nigeria” was personally signed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

According to the circular, personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, together with the Federal Fire Service, among others, are to discontinue henceforth using the camouflage uniforms at the disposal, following the directive issued by ONSA.

The NSA observed that the persistent proliferation of camouflaged uniforms by the aforementioned security and law enforcement agencies makes the outfit easily accessible to criminals and impostors while also exacerbating the already challenging security situation facing the country.

According to the circular, “Case in point was the recent unfortunate attack on communities in Plateau State where the perpetrators were reportedly dressed in camouflage uniforms.

” This further underscores the need to ensure that the ban placed on camouflage uniforms by security agencies other than the Armed Forces and the Police on special occasions, such as joint operations, is strictly enforced”.

The NSA then urged the Interior Minister to take necessary steps and place stringent measures to ensure that the ban on camouflage uniforms is upheld, enforced, and strictly complied with by all security and enforcement establishments under his supervision.

It was gathered that the ONSA has been inundated with concerns over the upsurge in the use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies other than the Armed Forces and, on special occasions such as joint operations, the Nigeria Police.

Over the years, the Federal Government had taken several measures to ensure that camouflage uniforms were restricted to the Armed Forces and, on special occasions, the Police.

The circular was, however, silent on the fate of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and that of the Department of State Service, DSS.