The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed a circulating fake video that falsely depicts the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, making a statement about plans to forcefully recruit Nigerians aged 18 and above into the military.
According to the military, the video features a mischievously cloned image of the Chief of Defence Staff and contains a fabricated message aimed at misleading the public.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, described the content as malicious and defamatory, noting that it was designed to tarnish the character of the Defence Chief and portray the Armed Forces of Nigeria in a negative light.
He stressed that the military remains a respected and voluntary profession, with thousands of patriotic citizens submitting themselves willingly during recruitment exercises into the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be on record that the purported statement was never made by the Chief of Defence Staff, any of the Service Chiefs, or indeed any member of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Uba said.
He added that the rise of artificial intelligence has made it easier for bad actors to create and circulate disinformation and malinformation, calling on Nigerians to exercise caution and verify the source and authenticity of statements or videos before sharing them.
Uba emphasised that all official statements from the CDS can only be obtained through verified Defence Headquarters spokespersons and its authorised social media channels.
He urged the public to disregard the fake video and the false claims it contains, reaffirming the military’s commitment to transparency and professionalism.
Earlier, the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) dismissed the same comment, which had been attributed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, by simply tagging it as fake and circulating it on social media.
Linus Aleke
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