The Nigerian Army has warned members of the public against fake social media accounts falsely claiming to be operated by the chief of army staff, Waidi Shaibu.

Army spokeswoman Appolonia Anele disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The statement said the army had observed a rise in fraudulent online accounts created by unscrupulous individuals to impersonate Mr Shaibu.

Mr Shaibu does not maintain any official social media accounts.

According to the army, the fake accounts are being used to defraud people, solicit funds, spread misinformation, and commit other fraudulent acts in the name of Mr Shaibu and the Nigerian army.

It advised the public to exercise caution and remain vigilant, urging citizens not to engage, respond to, or share content from such accounts.

The army also warned that any request for money or assistance purportedly made in the name of Mr Shaibu should be treated as a scam.

It added that necessary steps had been taken to identify and apprehend those behind the fake accounts, with a view to prosecuting them in line with extant laws.

(NAN)