The Defence Headquarters has dismissed a viral AI-generated video falsely claiming the Chief of Defence Staff ordered compulsory military recruitment for young Nigerians, urging the public to ignore the disinformation.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked a viral video allegedly showing Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede announcing compulsory recruitment of young Nigerians into the military, describing it as “fake,” “malicious,” and digitally cloned.
In an X post on Saturday, the DHQ said the footage was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the CDS’s reputation, stressing that “the purported statement was never made by the Chief of Defence Staff, any of the Service Chiefs and indeed by any member of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
The military cautioned that in an era of AI-driven disinformation, citizens must verify the authenticity of videos and statements before sharing them.
It reaffirmed that official communications from the CDS can only be sourced through verified DHQ spokespersons and platforms, urging the public to disregard the fake video and avoid amplifying content capable of causing unnecessary tension.