No Plans to Conscript Nigerians in to Military – DHQ Debunks Fake Video
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed a viral video falsely portraying the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General OO Oluyede, as announcing plans to forcefully recruit young Nigerians into the armed forces. The military high command described the video as a product of malicious cloning aimed at damaging the reputation of the CDS and misleading the public.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said the video mischievously manipulated the image and voice of General Oluyede to suggest that the Armed Forces of Nigeria intends to compel citizens from the age of 18 to enlist against their will. He described the material as “fake, defamatory and calculated to portray the military in bad light.”
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the circulation of a fake video depicting a mischievously cloned image of the Chief of Defence Staff General OO Oluyede AFM,” the statement said. “This fake statement and video are clearly intended to defame the character of the Chief of Defence Staff and are capable of portraying the military in bad light.”
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Uba stressed that at no time did the CDS, any of the Service Chiefs, or any officer of the Armed Forces issue such a statement. He noted that the military remains a respected and voluntary profession with thousands of patriotic Nigerians willingly applying during recruitment exercises conducted by the Army, Navy and Air Force.
He further cautioned the public about the growing dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven disinformation, urging Nigerians to verify the authenticity of videos and documents before sharing them.
“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,” he warned.
The DHQ advised citizens to rely solely on its verified spokespersons and official social media channels for accurate information regarding the CDS or military operations. It urged the public to disregard the circulating video and any similar fabricated materials.
Brigadier General Uba reaffirmed the military’s commitment to professionalism, transparency and the protection of Nigeria’s sovereignty, assuring that falsehoods will not distract the Armed Forces from its mandate.
By PRNigeria
