The Nigerian Army has warned Nigerians against fake social media accounts falsely claiming to represent or be linked to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
The warning was issued in a statement on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.
According to the Army, there has been a growing number of fake accounts created by individuals pretending to act on behalf of the COAS, a development it described as disturbing.
The statement made it clear that Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu does not operate any official social media account on any platform.
“Members of the general public are therefore advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant against scammers who may attempt to exploit these fake accounts to defraud unsuspecting individuals, solicit funds, or spread misinformation in the name of the COAS or the Nigerian Army,” the statement said.
The Army urged Nigerians not to engage with, respond to, or share content from such accounts.
It added that efforts are already underway to track down those behind the fake profiles.
“The Nigerian Army is taking all the necessary steps to apprehend the operators of these fake accounts with a view to bringing them to justice in accordance with the extant laws,” Anele stated.
The Army also reassured Nigerians of its continued commitment to national security.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to reassure the public of its unflinching commitment to protecting the citizens of our dear country and its territorial integrity as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement added.
