Nigerian Army Alerts On Fake COAS

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Army has warned members of the public about the activities of some persons parading themselves on social media as the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS) now operating in the country.

The Army said so far several telephone numbers with which the fake army chiefs are operating have been collated and being investigated.

Director Army Public Relations , Major General Onyema Nwachukwu in a press statement on Saturday noted that the imposters have continued to perpetrate this mischief using the official portrait of the COAS, as profile picture on their various social media platforms.

The statement reads “The Nigerian Army has warned the public to be cautious of impostors claiming to be the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede on various social media platforms.  These scammers often use social media platforms to deceive unsuspecting individuals, seeking financial gain or sensitive information.

“It is imperative to state that this is not the first time imposters have attempted to impersonate the person of the COAS on social media platforms to dupe unsuspecting members of the public in one form or the other.

“A new trend observed however, is the fixing of online/ vitual meetings on zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook and other online engagements with demand that participants share specific numbers which appear on their screens during such meetings with which the imposters then engage individually with the participants and subsequently defraud them.

“While the Nigerian Army, like other sister services of the Armed Forces have peculiar ways of communication known to all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, members of the general public must be wary of the danger posed by these imposters and are therefore urged to refrain from engaging in any online meeting organised on social media platforms especially using the official portrait of the COAS as the display picture.

“Members of the general public are enjoined to report such mobile phone numbers used to fix such online or virtual meetings through the Nigerian Army toll-free call centre number 193 for appropriate follow-up actions.

“The Nigerian Army entreats personnel and non personnel alike to be circumspect in engaging in any social media online, virtual meeting, or call, as official means of communication with the Nigerian Army hierarchy. Established protocols and procedures should be relied on while being vigilant against the wiles of scammers.

“To avoid falling victim to these scams, it’s essential to verify the authenticity of the Chief of Army Staff’s identity. Here are some *Red Flags to Watch Out For:

“Unofficial social media accounts: Be wary of accounts that are not officially recognized by the Nigerian Army.

“Suspicious requests: Be cautious of requests for financial assistance, personal information, or sensitive data.

“Poor grammar and spelling: Official communication from the Chief of Army Staff would typically be professional and free of errors.

“If you suspect an imposter, report them immediately to the relevant authorities. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!”