Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has refuted a viral video that falsely depicts the Chief of Defence Staff, General O.O. Oluyede, suggesting a plan for compulsory recruitment of Nigerians aged 18 and above.
In a statement released on Saturday, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, labeled the video as “fake” and “malicious.”
The Defence Headquarters noted that the video features a cloned image of the Chief of Defence Staff along with a fabricated statement aimed at damaging his reputation and portraying the Armed Forces negatively.
The Defence Headquarters emphasized that neither the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, nor any officer of the Armed Forces of Nigeria made such a statement.
It reiterated that the military is a respected institution that attracts thousands of willing applicants during routine recruitment exercises.
DHQ expressed concern over the increasing threat of misinformation, particularly in the era of Artificial Intelligence, and urged the public to desist from creating and sharing unverified videos and messages.
The Defence Headquarters advised Nigerians to rely solely on information from official Defence Headquarters spokespersons and verified social media platforms.
It called on the public to disregard the fake video and any claims associated with 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,” clarified the Defence Headquarters.
