Nigerian Army Raises Alarm, Warns Public Against Fake Social Media Accounts Posing as Army Chief
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that in a move to alarm the members of the public over the growing presence of fraudulent social media accounts falsely claiming to represent the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Nigerian Army has issued a strong warning to Nigerians that never should they engage with, respond to, or share content from such accounts, as doing so could expose them to scams or misinformation.
OTN News further reports as gathered that the warning, which was disclosed in an official statement signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, released on Friday, has it that the Army described these accounts as fake and operated by impostors seeking to mislead, defraud, or deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
OTN News observes that the statement, made it clear that the Chief of Army Staff does not operate or maintain any official social media account on any platform.
According to the Army, there has been a noticeable increase in the activities of unscrupulous individuals who create and manage fake online profiles in the name of the COAS or claim an association with the Nigerian Army.
These individuals, the statement noted, often use such platforms to solicit money, gather sensitive information, or spread false and misleading narratives that could undermine public confidence.
The Army urged Nigerians to remain alert and exercise extreme caution when encountering online accounts bearing the name or image of Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
Colonel Anele further assured the public that the Nigerian Army is actively tracking those responsible for these impersonations. She stated that all necessary measures are being taken to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the operators of the fake accounts in line with existing laws.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Nigerian Army emphasized that it remains fully dedicated to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, as well as safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Army, however, encouraged citizens to rely only on official military communication channels for accurate and verified information, stressing that public vigilance is crucial in combating digital fraud and misinformation.
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