DHQ Rejects Viral Video Portraying Defence Chief as Political Endorser

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed a viral video circulating online that appears to show the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, making political comments and endorsing a political position.

The military described the video as fake, misleading and digitally manipulated, warning Nigerians against believing or sharing the material.

According to the DHQ, the video does not represent any official statement, engagement or position of the Chief of Defence Staff or the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The clarification was issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, who said preliminary assessment of the footage showed clear signs that artificial intelligence and other digital tools had been used to manipulate the content.

The military said the video was deliberately created to make it appear as though a senior military officer had made statements that he never made.

The DHQ also raised concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence to create convincing but false videos involving senior government and military officials.

It warned that such fabricated material could create confusion, damage public confidence in the Armed Forces and have wider implications for national security.

The military therefore advised Nigerians, particularly bloggers, social media influencers, content creators and online commentators, to verify military-related information before publishing or reposting it.

The DHQ stressed that the pursuit of social media attention and engagement should not come at the expense of accuracy, responsible reporting and national security.

The development also highlights the growing challenge posed by AI-generated misinformation, as manipulated videos can make it appear that public officials said or did things that never happened.

The Defence Headquarters urged members of the public to rely on its official communication channels when seeking confirmation about statements or activities involving senior military officers.

The military reaffirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains focused on its constitutional responsibilities, including protecting the country’s sovereignty and maintaining peace and security.

For now, the DHQ’s position is clear: the viral video is not an authentic statement from the Chief of Defence Staff and should be disregarded.

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