A fake video attributed to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has triggered a warning from the Defence Headquarters over the growing threat of AI-generated misinformation.
The DHQ says the video falsely depicts the military chief making partisan political statements and was deliberately created to mislead the public and misrepresent the position of the Armed Forces.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, says the video is not genuine and that the statements credited to General Oluyede do not reflect his views or those of the Armed Forces.
The military has urged Nigerians to disregard the material and avoid creating or sharing similar content.
The DHQ says such fabricated material is particularly dangerous because of the sensitive role of the military and the potential to create the impression that its leadership is taking sides in political affairs.
It also warned that deliberate circulation of the video could damage the reputation of the Armed Forces and undermine public confidence in the institution.
The DHQ reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ political neutrality, stressing that the military remains professional, apolitical and non-partisan.
It has advised Nigerians to verify sensitive information through official military channels before believing or circulating such content.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over the use of artificial intelligence to produce convincing videos and audio recordings capable of impersonating public officials and other prominent figures.
