The Defence Headquarters has dismissed a viral video purportedly showing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, making comments suggesting partisan political support.
The military authorities said on Thursday that the video was fabricated and did not originate from the Defence Chief.
In a statement posted on its X handle and signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the DHQ urged Nigerians to disregard the video, describing the statements attributed to Oluyede as false.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to state unequivocally that the video is fake and did not emanate from the Chief of Defence Staff,” the statement said.
“The statements attributed to the CDS in the video are false and should be completely disregarded,” it added.
According to the DHQ, the footage was created using artificial intelligence technology and was apparently designed to deceive the public, misrepresent the position of the Chief of Defence Staff and damage the reputation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The video is a product of Artificial Intelligence-generated manipulation, apparently designed to deceive and mislead the public, misrepresent the position of the Chief of Defence Staff and bring the Armed Forces of Nigeria into disrepute,” the military said.
The Defence Headquarters also reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s commitment to political neutrality, stressing that the Armed Forces remains a professional and non-partisan institution.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains a professional, apolitical and non-partisan institution, committed to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the defence of the nation,” it said.
The DHQ condemned the creation and circulation of the video and warned those responsible, as well as anyone knowingly amplifying the material, to stop immediately.
It also advised members of the public to rely on information released through the military’s official communication channels and disregard the viral video.