The Nigerian Army has alerted the public to the emergence of fraudulent social media accounts falsely claiming to be operated by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, disclosed in a statement from Abuja on Friday that these fake accounts are being created by unscrupulous individuals for criminal purposes.

Col. Anele clarified that the COAS does not maintain any official social media accounts on any platform. She warned that the fraudulent accounts are being used to deceive the public, solicit funds, spread misinformation, and commit other scams under the guise of the COAS and the Nigerian Army.

“Members of the public are advised to exercise caution and not to engage with, respond to, or share content from such accounts,” she said.

She further cautioned that any request for money or assistance purportedly coming from the COAS should be treated as a scam.

Col. Anele noted that the Nigerian Army has taken steps to identify and apprehend the individuals behind these fake accounts, and they will face prosecution in accordance with existing laws.

“The Nigerian Army reassures Nigerians of its continued commitment to protecting lives and property and defending the country’s territorial integrity, as enshrined in the Constitution,” she added.