Nigerian Army Raises Alarm On Fake Social Media Accounts Linked To COAS

The Nigerian Army has warned the public to be cautious of social media accounts falsely claiming to represent the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.

It described such accounts as fake, and operated by impostors.

The Army, in a statement on Friday, issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, clarified that General Shaibu does not have any official social media presence on any platform.

The statement urged members of the public to desist from interacting with such accounts, adding that the Army was working to apprehend those behind the fake accounts and bring them to justice.

“The Nigerian Army has observed a disturbing rise in fake social media accounts created and operated by unscrupulous individuals, falsely claiming to represent or be associated with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu. The Nigerian Army wishes to categorically state that the Chief of Army Staff does not have any official social media presence on any platform.

“Members of the general public are therefore advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant against scammers who may attempt to exploit these fake accounts to defraud unsuspecting individuals, solicit funds, or spread misinformation in the name of the COAS or the Nigerian Army. The public is urged not to engage, respond, or share information from such accounts.

“The Nigerian Army is taking all the necessary steps to apprehend the operators of these fake accounts with a view to bringing them to justice in accordance with the extant laws.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to reassure the public of its unflinching commitment to protecting the citizens of our dear country and its territorial integrity as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement read.

PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIAN ARMY ALERTS THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS PURPORTEDLY OPERATED BY THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF

The Nigerian Army has observed a disturbing rise in fake social media accounts created and operated by unscrupulous individuals, falsely claiming… pic.twitter.com/ZUxHM9vgvO

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) January 9, 2026