DHQ disowns viral video on forced military recruitment

DHQ Disclaims Fake Military Recruitment Video

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has rejected a viral video that inaccurately claims the Armed Forces intends to forcibly recruit Nigerians aged 18 and above into military service. This statement was made by Brig.-Gen. Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, on Saturday in Abuja.

Uba stated that the video, which includes a manipulated image of Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, is misleading and aims to tarnish the reputation of military leadership. He confirmed that neither the CDS nor any Service Chief has issued such a directive. Uba emphasized that recruitment into the Armed Forces is entirely voluntary, with many Nigerians choosing to apply during enlistment exercises.

He cautioned the public against the increasing dissemination of digitally altered content, particularly given the ease of creating fake videos using Artificial Intelligence tools. Uba urged individuals to verify information through official DHQ channels before sharing. Only communications from authorized spokespersons and verified social media accounts of the Defence Headquarters should be trusted, he added. The public is advised to ignore the viral video, which has been labeled as fake and groundless.

• Why it matters: This misinformation could cause public panic and mistrust toward the military, potentially affecting recruitment levels.
• Encouraging verification of information may strengthen public resilience against digital misinformation.

• The latest: As of now, no further updates regarding the viral video have been reported.