ARMY FATIGUE FOR FUN?!

Today while heading to the hospital, I saw the craziest sight. There was a young man in a shirt and light blue boxers frog-jumping while holding his ears as a soldier looked on holding army fatigue shorts in one hand, and a koboko (A long flexible whip made of cow skin or horse tail) in the other hand shouting at the young man. 

A group of people had gathered to look on at the spectacle happening before us. When I got to the hospital I ran and told a doctor what I had saw, and she just started laughing hysterically.

The doctor informed me that the young man must’ve been wearing army fatigue and was clearly not a part of a military unit, as a result he was reprimanded by the army soldier. She then ended by saying “YOU DO NOT WEAR ARMY FATIGUE FOR FASHION PURPOSES IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT IS A NO GO AREA.” The first thing that came to my mind was my own army fatigue shorts that are neatly folded in my dresser at home. I made a mental note then and there to NEVER EVER wear those shorts out while in Nigeria.

Though Nigeria is no longer under military rule, it has been made very apparent to me that they still have some power and it must be recognized or one will have to face their day of reckoning. I’ve witnessed on two other separate occasions while riding in a car, people who have been parked my military men by either knowingly or unknowingly doing something that offended the military men while on the road (ie. Cutting off a soldier while driving, or not allowing a soldier pass them). They were then subjected to very embarrassing acts by the soldiers such as “dirty slaps” (slaps so hard you can hear a mile away :-p) to the face, being whipped with a koboko through their car windows and doors while begging for forgiveness!!!

After witnessing this last display, I have advice for anyone visiting Nigeria, DON’T annoy a military man or prepare for EMBARASSMENT, dirty slaps, and maybe even some frog jumping!

I was too much of a punk to get close to the scene and take a picture of the frog jumping individual in light blue boxers, so this pic from the web will have to do!