The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has raised fresh concerns over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence after uncovering a fake video falsely depicting Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on social media.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the military high command dismissed the viral footage as fabricated and designed to mislead members of the public about the activities and positions of senior military officers.
According to the DHQ, some versions of the manipulated video falsely portrayed General Musa, while others attempted to pass off the individual featured as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.
The military described the content as entirely false, stressing that neither of the two senior officers participated in, endorsed or authorised the material currently circulating across digital platforms.
Preliminary investigations by military authorities reportedly revealed multiple indicators of artificial intelligence manipulation, highlighting the increasing sophistication of digital technologies being deployed to create deceptive content.
The Defence Headquarters warned that such fabricated videos pose a significant threat to public trust, particularly when they involve high ranking security officials whose statements can influence national discourse and security perceptions.
It noted that the dissemination of false information could undermine confidence in public institutions and potentially interfere with ongoing efforts by security agencies to tackle various threats confronting the country.
The military further cautioned social media influencers, bloggers, content creators and online commentators against sharing unverified military related content, stressing that the pursuit of online engagement must not override professional responsibility and factual accuracy.
DHQ urged journalists and members of the public to verify sensitive information through official military communication channels before publication, reposting or amplification on digital platforms.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said it remains focused on defending the nation’s sovereignty and protecting lives and property, while intensifying efforts to combat misinformation and preserve public confidence in the military.