The Nigerian Army has pushed back hard against a viral online post claiming that young Nigerians would soon be forcefully drafted into military service. The institution labeled the entire story a dangerous hoax, warning citizens not to fall for fear-driven propaganda circulating on social media.
According to a statement released in Abuja by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, the publication—falsely linked to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu—was nothing more than a calculated attempt to stir panic. The fake report alleged that the Army planned to forcibly conscript all Nigerians aged 18 and above, and even went as far as claiming that 10,000 soldiers recruited last year had mysteriously disappeared.
Anele made it clear that the COAS never made such comments anywhere, publicly or privately. She stressed that the Nigerian Army operates within the law and has no intention of drafting citizens against their will. She called the viral message a “malicious fabrication” designed to mislead the public and ignite unnecessary tension.
The Army also issued a stern warning to those spreading such misinformation, noting that security agencies would not hesitate to trace, arrest, and prosecute anyone intentionally circulating harmful falsehoods.
Anele encouraged Nigerians to stay calm, ignore rumours, and depend only on official military communication channels and verified social media accounts for accurate updates.
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