A renewed wave of online impersonation scams has prompted the Nigerian Army to warn the public about fake social media accounts targeting senior military officers. The alert highlights growing concerns over how cybercriminals exploit the identities of top officials to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

On Sunday, the Nigerian Army issued the warning through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, cautioning Nigerians against fraudulent Facebook profiles impersonating senior officers.

According to the statement, cybercriminals created fake accounts using the identities and photographs of:
• Major General Raymond Utsaha, Deputy Chief of Standards and Evaluation (Army)
• Major General Bamidele Alabi, Chief of Policy and Plans (Army)

The Army said the accounts were created to deceive and defraud members of the public through false online interactions.

In its statement, the Army said:
“The Nigerian Army wishes to categorically state that the said Facebook accounts are fake and were created with malicious intent to defraud individuals through false representations and unauthorised online engagements.”

The military institution advised Nigerians to avoid financial or personal dealings with such accounts and remain cautious of suspicious online requests.

The warning also reflects broader concerns about identity-based cybercrime in Nigeria’s digital space. Fraudsters increasingly impersonate government and military officials to gain public trust and manipulate victims.

Security experts say such scams thrive partly because many users still trust authority-linked profiles without verifying authenticity. Fake accounts are often used to request money, personal information, or unofficial assistance.

The Nigerian Army reiterated that senior military officers do not conduct official business, financial transactions, or sensitive operations through personal social media accounts.

Over the past few years, impersonation scams involving public officials, security agencies, and government institutions have continued to rise across Facebook, WhatsApp, and other online platforms.

The Army urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious accounts or activities to the appropriate security agencies.

As cybercrime tactics become more sophisticated, authorities face increasing pressure to strengthen online verification systems and improve public awareness about digital safety.