The Defence Headquarters has warned against a fake artificial intelligence film purportedly of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, making partisan political comments.
According to The Guardian, the military said the film was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, misrepresent the views of the country’s highest military official and create an impression that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were taking a political position.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, claimed in a statement issued today, Thursday, August 27, that the video did not emanate from the Chief of Defence Staff and that the statements ascribed to General Oluyede were untrue.
The movie was generated through manipulation by Artificial Intelligence and was intentionally made to appear realistic, according to the Defence Headquarters.
The military said the document was apparently meant to deceive Nigerians, distort the views of the CDS and tarnish the image of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The move follows increasing worry about the use of artificial intelligence to make movies and audio recordings of public officials and other famous people that are lifelike but false.
The Defence Headquarters said it was particularly worrying given the position of the person being impersonated and the possible implications of fraudulently showing the military leadership taking a partisan political position.
The DHQ, therefore, encouraged members of the public to utterly discountenance the video and any statement credited to General Oluyede in the concocted material.
The military said the words in the video were not made by the Chief of Defence Staff and did not reflect his views or the attitude of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
It also reiterated the political neutrality of the Nigerian military, stating that the Armed Forces is a professional, apolitical and non-partisan organization committed to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the defence of the nation.
This explanation is vital, considering the delicate role of the military in Nigeria’s democratic system and the constitutional expectation that the Armed Forces be above party political concerns.
The DHQ criticised the purposeful making and spread of the bogus film, saying that such content might damage the faith of the people in the institution and bring the Armed Forces into shame.
It also advised those who made the video and those who intentionally amplified or circulated the video to refrain from doing so.
The warning comes as social media platforms continue to make it easier for false content to spread fast, frequently reaching enormous audiences before its validity can be independently proved. It can be especially hard for regular users to spot AI-generated videos because they can successfully mimic a person’s looks, voice and behaviours.
The Defence Headquarters has therefore warned Nigerians to be wary whenever they come across videos or statements allegedly issued by senior military officers especially where such content touches on issues that are politically sensitive.
The military called on members of the public to rely on information disseminated through its vetted and official communication channels for accurate information about the Armed Forces and its leadership.
Official outlets are mentioned by the Defence Headquarters as Defence Headquarters Nigeria on Facebook, DHQNigeria on X, DefenceHQ on Instagram, Defence Headquarters Nigeria on WhatsApp and DefenceTV-Nigeria on YouTube. The announcement was signed by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information on 27 August, 2026.
The episode has drawn attention to the growing issue of misinformation generated by AI, especially when modified content is used to credit claims to prominent government, military or political officials.
For the Armed Forces it is not simply about one video being legitimate. A false assertion that the military leadership has taken a political position could lead to confusion and unneeded controversy and erode faith in the impartiality of the institution.
The Defence Headquarters has consequently endeavoured to create a clear line between the fabricated information and the real position of the Chief of Defence Staff. It said the video is fraudulent, the words ascribed to Gen Oluyede are untrue, and that the Armed Forces is committed to its professional and non-partisan position.
“The message from the DHQ to Nigerians is to disregard the material and confirm sensitive claims with the official channels before believing and sharing them.
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