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Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has dismissed a viral video falsely portraying the Chief of Defence Staff, General O.O. Oluyede, suggesting that the military planned to forcefully recruit Nigerians aged 18 and above.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Brigadier General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, the military described the video as “fake” and “malicious.”
DHQ noted that it featured a cloned image of the CDS with a fabricated statement intended to smear his reputation and cast the Armed Forces in a negative light.
The Defence Headquarters stressed that neither the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, nor any officer of the Armed Forces of Nigeria made such a remark.
It reiterated that the military remains a respected institution that attracts thousands of willing applicants during its routine recruitment exercises.
DHQ warned against the growing threat of misinformation in the era of Artificial Intelligence. The statement urged the public to stop creating and circulating unverified videos and messages.
The DHQ further advised Nigerians to rely only on official Defence Headquarters spokespersons and verified social media platforms for credible information.
It called on the public to disregard the circulating fake video and any claims attributed to it.
“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, and indeed by any member of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“In this age of Artificial Intelligence, disinformation and malinformation, it is important that care is taken by all to avoid the creation and sharing of fake statements and videos without clearly verifying their source and authenticity,” DHQ clarified.
