The Nigerian Army has clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest of social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, following allegations of abduction by the military. In a statement, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, explained that Justice Crack was taken into custody after posting comments based on complaints from soldiers regarding their feeding and other welfare matters.
Army's Justification for the Arrest
According to Colonel Anele, the matter is under investigation for violations of the Armed Forces' Social Media Policy and attempts to mislead the public. Preliminary reports indicate that the soldiers discussed various issues with Chidiebere, who allegedly incited them to create discontent within the military system. An example cited was a chat bordering on subversion that Chidiebere had with the soldiers.
The Army emphasized that civilians cultivating vulnerable personnel toward acts of subversion has serious implications for discipline and national security. Consequently, Justice Crack was picked up along with the soldiers for investigation. While the soldiers remain in custody, Chidiebere has been handed over to relevant civil authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Anele stressed that the Nigerian Army remains committed to the rule of law and will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure justice is served. She added that the Army will act within the law to safeguard the nation's sovereignty.
HURIWA Condemns the Action
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the Nigerian Army's action, describing it as a brazen kidnapping and a direct assault on Nigeria's Constitution. In a statement by National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA dismissed the Army's explanation as an afterthought justification, insisting that it was a crude, unlawful abduction carried out in broad daylight.
HURIWA questioned why a civilian was seized by soldiers instead of being invited by lawful civil authorities, and what specific law authorizes the Army to pick up citizens on nebulous grounds. The group also asked when expressing opinions on troop welfare became a military offense.
The rights body warned that the Army's conduct has blurred the line between lawful enforcement and criminal abduction, creating a dangerous environment where citizens no longer feel safe from those sworn to protect them. HURIWA described Chidiebere's actions as a legitimate civic duty, not a crime, and accused the Army of attempting to weaponize national security to silence dissent.
HURIWA stated, "If the information is false, respond with facts—not force. Bullets and abductions are not tools of public communication." The group warned that the Army's actions mirror tactics used by criminal kidnapping gangs terrorizing Nigerians, adding that when soldiers act like kidnappers, the state loses its moral authority to fight actual kidnappers.
Call for Release and Accountability
While the Army claims the activist was involved in acts capable of inciting discontent within the ranks, HURIWA dismissed the justification as dangerously elastic and open to abuse. The group insisted that national security cannot be used as a blanket excuse for illegality, warning that such reasoning opens the door to authoritarian excesses.
HURIWA called for the immediate and unconditional release of the activist and a binding commitment to end military interference in civilian affairs. The group warned that Nigeria is inching toward a dangerous tipping point where the rule of law is replaced by the rule of force. "Today it is one activist. Tomorrow it could be any Nigerian. This is how democracies die—when guns override the Constitution," the group declared.
The rights body vowed to mobilize legal, civic, and public pressure until what it called this culture of impunity is decisively confronted.
