The Nigerian Army has firmly rejected a widely circulated online report alleging that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, intended to impose compulsory military service on Nigerians aged 18 and above.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, clarified that the rumour suggesting the COAS threatened mandatory conscription for youths who refused to enlist was completely false. She noted that the same publication also claimed that 10,000 soldiers recruited in the previous year had disappeared.
Anele dismissed the claims as a “malicious fabrication” designed to mislead citizens and create unnecessary panic. She stressed that Lt.-Gen. Shaibu never made such comments in any setting, saying the allegations had no basis in fact.
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She further cautioned those spreading misleading or provocative information to stop, warning that individuals responsible would be identified and prosecuted according to the law.
The Army spokesperson encouraged Nigerians to ignore the rumour and rely solely on verified official statements and accredited social media platforms for accurate updates.