The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has warned that Nigeria’s greatest future wars may not be fought with bullets, but with lies, fake images, and AI-generated videos.
Oluyede sounded the alarm on Tuesday in Abuja during the Directorate of Army Public Relations’ quarterly seminar, saying fake news and deepfakes now pose a major threat to national security and the success of military operations.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, Commander of the Army Cyber Warfare Command, the COAS said misinformation has become a digital weapon capable of dividing the country faster than any insurgent attack.
“With the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, fake news, manipulated images, and deepfakes now pose real threats to national cohesion and operational integrity,” he said.
He added that modern conflicts are now fought both on the ground and online, where false narratives can weaken public trust and morale.
“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,” he warned.
Oluyede called on journalists and military information officers to work together to combat misinformation, emphasizing that truth is now a critical tool for national defense.
“While weapons win battles, truth and trust win wars,” he added.
Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, echoed the warning, saying fake news and deepfakes now carry as much danger as enemy propaganda in active war zones.
She stressed that only verified, fact-checked reporting can protect the country from manipulation and panic.
The Army’s warning comes as artificial intelligence continues to blur the line between reality and fiction — allowing fake videos and audio to mislead the public, distort facts, and endanger national stability.