The Nigerian Army has issued a strong warning to the public over the activities of fraudsters operating fake social media accounts impersonating senior military officers on Facebook.
In a statement released by the Army, the fraudsters were accused of creating fake accounts in the name of Major General Raymond Terungwa Utsaha, the Deputy Chief of Standards and Evaluation (Army), while also using the photograph of Major General Bamidele Alabi, the current Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.
The Army described the accounts as fraudulent and malicious, stressing that they were created to scam members of the public through false claims, fake engagements, and unauthorized online interactions.
According to the statement, the Nigerian Army does not permit senior military officers to conduct official business, request money, award contracts, or handle sensitive matters through personal social media accounts or unofficial online channels.
The Army advised Nigerians to ignore any communication, friend requests, financial requests, or unofficial messages originating from the fake accounts.
It also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious online activities and impersonation attempts to relevant security agencies.
The Army further assured citizens that it would continue to monitor cyberspace and take necessary action against individuals or groups involved in impersonation, cyber fraud, and other related criminal activities.
The warning comes amid rising cases of online scams and identity theft involving the impersonation of public officials, military personnel, and government institutions across social media platforms in Nigeria.
Security experts have repeatedly advised social media users to verify online identities before engaging in financial transactions or sharing sensitive information online.