The Nigerian military has firmly denied any involvement in a recent guards parade held in honor of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.
Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, stated that the personnel featured in the viral video are not affiliated with the military. “They are not our personnel. We don’t dress that way. We don’t have this type of badge of rank. We don’t know them,” Gusau told The PUNCH.
The video, which depicted Seyi Tinubu receiving a presidential honor and inspecting a guards parade, sparked widespread speculation regarding the military’s involvement.
A group called the Community Auxiliary Development and Effective Transformation Network has claimed responsibility for organizing the parade, which has generated significant controversy and debate online.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an investigation into the viral footage, condemning the event as a gross violation of military traditions. In a statement released through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku expressed outrage, describing the parade as an aberration for any branch of the Armed Forces to honor a non-designated public figure.
“It is with utter dismay and concern that Nigerians were subjected to a nauseating video circulating online, where a group of young men, armed and in full military procession, bestowed unwarranted military honors upon the President’s son,” the statement read.
Atiku further questioned the legitimacy of the military-like outfit involved, noting that the so-called “Nigeria Cadet Network” is not recognized by the Nigerian Armed Forces. He emphasized that the term “Cadet,” typically associated with formally trained military personnel, has been misappropriated by civilians to undermine the military’s esteemed traditions.
“In an effort to uncover the truth behind this shameless procession, we instructed our legal team and military experts to investigate the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network.’ To no one’s surprise, it was revealed that the group is not a legally registered entity,” Atiku noted.
“What is even more alarming is the brazen use of firearms by civilians in this so-called parade — at a time when illegal arms proliferation is at a dangerous high in our country.”
Atiku has called for an urgent investigation by all relevant security agencies into the incident.
