Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday warned that the growing use of fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s national security and the integrity of military operations.
General Oluyede, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the Directorate of Army Public Relations’ combined third and fourth quarters seminar held in Abuja, said the rise of digital technology and artificial intelligence had made information travel faster and wider, making it easier for misinformation and doctored content to spread unchecked.
The Army Chief’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the spread of misinformation and the use of artificial intelligence to create deepfakes, convincingly altered videos, audio, or images that can mislead the public and distort facts.
Represented by Commander, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General Mohammed Abdullahi, the COAS noted: “With the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the speed and reach of information — both genuine and false – have multiplied. Fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes now pose real threats to national cohesion and operational integrity.”
General Oluyede stressed that the media plays a vital role in shaping public perception of the military, adding that responsible and balanced reporting is essential to maintain public trust and support for ongoing operations across the country.
Stating that modern conflicts are increasingly fought not only on the battlefield but also in the information space, where narratives and public confidence determine the success of security efforts.
He said: “Victory today is not won solely on the battlefield. Increasingly, it is fought in the information domain — where narratives, perceptions, and public confidence are decisive.”
General Oluyede urged journalists and public relations officers to work together to counter misinformation by ensuring that only verified and factual information dominates public discourse.
Commending the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, for her initiative in convening the seminar and for his commitment to improving military–media relations; the Army Chief reiterated the Service’s readiness to collaborate with the media to promote professionalism, truth, and national interest in the reporting of military operations.
According to him: “While weapons win battles, truth and trust win wars. Our collective mission is to ensure that the Nigerian public remains accurately informed, confident in its Armed Forces, and united behind the cause of national security.”
In her remarks, Colonel Anele noted that fake news, doctored images, and deepfakes now pose as much danger as enemy propaganda in active conflict zones.
The evolving reality, the Army Spokesperson said, makes fact-checking, verification, and responsible journalism indispensable tools for safeguarding both national security and public trust.