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 Nigerians aged 18 and above into the military.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, described the footage as a “mischievously cloned” creation aimed at defaming the CDS and misrepresenting the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He said the fake video attributed to the CDS was designed to mislead the public and cast the military in a negative light, stressing that the Armed Forces remain a voluntary institution that continues to attract thousands of patriotic Nigerians during its regular recruitment exercises.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the purported statement was never made by the Chief of Defence Staff, any of the Service Chiefs, or any personnel of the Armed Forces,” the DHQ clarified.
General Uba also warned that the rise of artificial intelligence, disinformation, and malinformation demands greater caution from the public, urging Nigerians to verify the authenticity of videos and statements before sharing.
He emphasized that official statements from the CDS or the Defence Headquarters can only be obtained through designated spokespersons and verified DHQ social media platforms.
The DHQ therefore called on the public to disregard the viral video and its claims in their entirety.
