Army Disclaims Fake Social Media Profiles of General Shaibu

The Nigerian Army high command has issued a high-priority security alert to the general public, warning of a coordinated wave of digital impersonation targeting the nation’s top military leadership. This warning centers on the proliferation of fraudulent social media accounts falsely claiming to belong to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu. The military authorities are treating this development as a significant threat to national communication security, as impostors increasingly seek to exploit the General’s profile for illicit gains.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, clarified in a definitive statement on Friday that the Chief of Army Staff maintains no personal or official presence on any social media platform. The Army’s communication wing emphasized that any account currently active on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn bearing the name or likeness of Lieutenant General Shaibu is a fabrication. This clarification is intended to draw a clear line between official military channels and the deceptive profiles currently circulating in the digital space.

The rise of these fake accounts has been described by military officials as a disturbing trend aimed at misleading both domestic and international audiences. Scammers behind these profiles often use the prestige and authority of the Army Chief’s office to orchestrate elaborate fraud schemes. According to the Army, these unscrupulous individuals frequently solicit funds under the guise of military recruitment, procurement contracts, or charitable donations, preying on the trust that citizens place in the nation’s defense institutions.

Beyond financial extortion, the Army expressed deep concern regarding the potential for these fake accounts to become conduits for misinformation. In an era where digital narratives can influence public perception and national stability, the military is wary of “fake news” being attributed to the Chief of Army Staff. Unauthorized statements issued from these fraudulent handles could inadvertently spark social unrest or compromise sensitive operational protocols if taken as authentic by unsuspecting followers.

The statement urged Nigerians to exercise extreme caution and maintain a high level of vigilance when navigating social media. Citizens are advised not to interact with, respond to, or share content from any account claiming to represent the COAS. Engaging with these profiles not only risks personal financial loss but also provides the scammers with the engagement metrics they need to appear more legitimate to other potential victims. The Army’s message is simple: if it is on social media and claims to be General Shaibu, it is a lie.

In response to this digital insurgency, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that it is initiating a comprehensive crackdown to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind these fraudulent activities. The military is reportedly collaborating with cybersecurity experts and relevant law enforcement agencies to track the digital footprints of these impostors. The goal is to ensure that those found guilty of criminal impersonation and cyber-fraud are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, serving as a deterrent to others.

Colonel Anele reaffirmed the Army’s unwavering commitment to its constitutional mandate of protecting Nigerian citizens and the country’s territorial integrity. Part of this protection, the Army argues, involves safeguarding the information space from predators who use military branding to facilitate crime. The authorities stressed that all official military communications are disseminated through verified institutional channels and established traditional media outlets, rather than personal social handles of high-ranking officers.

This alert comes at a time when identity theft and digital spoofing have become sophisticated tools for criminal syndicates across West Africa. By impersonating a figure as high-profile as the Chief of Army Staff, these criminals aim to give their schemes a veneer of “official” credibility. The Nigerian Army is now doubling down on its public education efforts to ensure that the average citizen can distinguish between a genuine military directive and a fabricated post from a digital predator.

As the investigation into the origin of these accounts continues, the military is calling on social media platforms to take more proactive measures in verifying the identities of high-ranking public officials. They also encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious accounts they encounter to the appropriate authorities. The proactive stance taken by the Army high command reflects a broader strategy to modernize military public relations and defend the institution’s reputation in an increasingly complex digital world.

The military maintains that the integrity of the office of the Chief of Army Staff is paramount. Ensuring that the public is not led astray by shadows in the digital realm is considered vital to maintaining the bond of trust between the armed forces and the people they serve. For now, the official directive remains unchanged: Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu is not on social media, and any account claiming otherwise is a trap.