𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚: 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰
One particular falsehood that’s been making the rounds on social media is the claim that overtaking a military convoy is illegal and carries severe consequences under Nigerian law. This belief, fueled by a viral article, is not just false—it’s dangerous. Dangerous because unchallenged falsehood distorts public understanding of true facts.
The viral article in question claims that overtaking a military convoy is a “serious offense” punishable under several Nigerian laws, including the Armed Forces Act (AFA) 2004, Road Traffic Act 2004, and National Security Agencies Act 2004. It even cites a supposed case, Aoku v. State (2017), as precedent.
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝: none of them exists in the light the article painted them.
𝑨𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒕: The article’s interpretation of Section 119 of the Armed Forces Act is entirely wrong. That section deals with disciplining members of the military—not civilians. It doesn’t mention overtaking military convoys or anything remotely related to traffic offenses.
𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑨𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒕 2004: Again, the article outrightly fabricated this section of the law. It cites a non-existent Section 15 of the National Security Agencies Act, claiming it empowers security agencies to take necessary actions to maintain national security, including prosecuting individuals who overtake military convoys. However, a review of the Act clearly shows only 8 sections, and there is nothing like any offence of overtaking military convoy.
𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝑨𝒄𝒕 2004: It fabricated this again. Section 35 never spoke about military convoy and it never prohibited overtaking military vehicles.
𝑨𝒐𝒌𝒖 𝒗. 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆: No Court of Appeal decision has sentenced anyone to five years imprisonment for overtaking a military vehicle.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The real danger in the viral article is not just the claim itself—it’s the falsehood that it spreads. By misleading the public into thinking and believing that overtaking military convoys is illegal, the article inadvertently legitimizes likely human rights abuses and also makes citizens feel in the wrong in the face of military aggression. The article may even encourage some military personnel as a basis to justify human right abuse.
While it’s wise and prudent to approach military convoys with caution—for safety purposes—there’s no law that forbids overtaking them.
𝐎𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐬𝐪.
𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫@𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦
