Abuja: The Nigerian Army has warned those impersonating the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on social media to stop or face the consequences. The warning is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nwachukwu stated that the army had been inundated with complaints about an increasing number of impostors claiming to be COAS on various social media platforms. The impostors have been using the official portrait of the COAS as profile pictures on these platforms.
He emphasized that this is not the first time such impersonations have occurred, noting that impostors have previously attempted to deceive the public by posing as the COAS on social media platforms. A new trend involves impostors organizing online or virtual meetings via Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook, and other platforms. During these meetings, participants are asked to share specific numbers that appear on their screens, which the impostors then use to engage individually with the participants and defraud them.
The Nigerian Army has identified several phone numbers frequently used by the fraudsters, including 09033949238, 09075323836, and others. Nwachukwu stressed the importance of public awareness regarding the risks posed by these impostors and urged the public to avoid engaging in online meetings featuring the COAS’s official portrait as the display picture.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious phone numbers used for organizing such meetings to the Nigerian Army’s toll-free call center number 193 for appropriate follow-up actions. Nwachukwu also advised both army personnel and civilians to be cautious when participating in social media online meetings or calls, emphasizing the importance of adhering to established communication protocols and procedures while remaining vigilant against scams.