DHQ Raises Alarm Over Fake AI Video Targeting CDS

By Al-Amin Ciroma 

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed as fake a video circulating online which appears to show the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, making comments suggesting political allegiance.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the military authorities said the video was artificially generated and did not originate from the Chief of Defence Staff.

THE NATIONAL LENS reports that the Defence Headquarters described the material as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, distort the position of the military leadership and damage the reputation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

According to the military, statements attributed to General Oluyede in the video are entirely false and should be disregarded by members of the public.

The development comes amid growing concerns over the use of artificial intelligence to create convincing but fabricated audio and video materials capable of making public figures appear to say or endorse things they never said.

The Defence Headquarters stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains a professional, constitutional and non-partisan institution, maintaining that the military is committed to defending the nation and upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the statement, the military also condemned the production and circulation of the video, warning those responsible for creating it, as well as individuals who knowingly promote or amplify the material, to stop immediately.

The Defence Headquarters urged Nigerians to exercise caution when consuming information circulating on social media, particularly content involving senior military officials, and to verify such claims through official military communication channels.

The military said authentic information concerning the Armed Forces and its leadership should be obtained from verified Defence Headquarters platforms.

The statement was signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, on August 27, 2026.