Deepfake Video Targets Nigerian Military Leadership
A deepfake video circulating on Nigerian social media falsely portrayed the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff, bearing clear signs of artificial intelligence-driven digital manipulation. The Defence Headquarters dismissed the video as fabricated content designed to misinform the public and create confusion about military leadership.
What happened
A video circulating on social media falsely portrayed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and in some instances the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede. The Defence Headquarters dismissed the video as fabricated, false, misleading and digitally manipulated, noting that it did not originate from any official military source and did not represent any official communication, position, statement or engagement involving either military chief.
Reported impact
The Defence Headquarters expressed concern over the video's potential to misinform the public and create confusion regarding the activities and leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The military warned that such content has the potential to erode public trust and undermine national security efforts.
Index analysis
Preliminary assessments indicated that the footage bears clear signs of digital manipulation and was likely generated using Artificial Intelligence technologies. The Defence Headquarters noted a growing trend of individuals using digital technology to create deceptive content involving senior military officers.
Governance controls
The Defence Headquarters urged members of the public to disregard the video and advised media organisations and members of the public to verify information through official DHQ communication channels before publication or dissemination. The military cautioned social media influencers, bloggers, content creators and online commentators against sharing or amplifying unverified military-related content.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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