The Nigerian Army has debunked a viral publication alleging that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, planned to forcefully conscript Nigerians aged 18 and above into military service.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, described the circulating claims as “entirely baseless” and aimed at misleading the public.
According to her, the viral post falsely alleged that the Army Chief had threatened compulsory enlistment for youths who fail to join voluntarily.
It further claimed that 10,000 soldiers recruited in the previous year had gone missing.
Anele stated that no such comment was made by the COAS in any forum, adding that the narratives were fabricated to incite fear and undermine public trust.
She cautioned individuals and groups responsible for spreading the misinformation to desist, warning that those involved would be identified and prosecuted in line with the law.
The Army spokesperson urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour and rely solely on verified official communication channels and recognised social media handles for credible updates.