The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described the alleged plan by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, to forcefully recruit young Nigerians from the age of 18 years into the military against their will as fake news.
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The DHQ said the fake statement and video, which has gone viral on social media, is clearly intended to defame the character of the Chief of Defence Staff and portray the military in a bad light.
Director of Defence Information Brigadier General Samaila Uba, who made this known, said the military remains a noble profession with thousands of patriotic Nigerians ever ready to willingly join its ranks, as attested to during various recruitment exercises into the 3 arms of the Nigerian military.
Gen. Uba, in a statement issued in Abuja, said, “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 Olufemi Oluyede.
“In the said fake video, a malicious statement was attributed to him about the intent of the military to forcefully recruit young Nigerians from the age of 18 years into the military against their will.
“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 a bad light.
“The military remains a noble profession with thousands of patriotic Nigerians ever ready to willingly join its ranks, as attested to during various recruitment exercises into the 3 arms of the Nigerian military.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be on record 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.
“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.
“It is therefore important for all to note that all statements and releases from the Chief of Defence Staff are to be sourced from verified Defence Headquarters’ designated spokespersons and its official social media handles. All are please requested to kindly disregard the fake video and statement in circulation.”
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