The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has issued an urgent warning to the public following a surge in sophisticated social media scams.
Fraudsters are currently impersonating the Academy’s Commandant, Major General Oluyemi Thomas Olatoye, to lure unsuspecting citizens into “lucrative” but non-existent contract deals.
The scammers are reportedly active across almost every major platform, including Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). By using the General’s name and likeness, they aim to build a false sense of trust before asking for “processing fees” or personal financial details.
In a statement released on Thursday, Major Reuben Kovangiya, the Academy’s Public Relations Officer, made it clear that these accounts are nothing more than digital traps designed to “defraud individuals of their hard-earned resources.”
“The Academy wishes to unambiguously state that the said accounts are schemes created with the intent to deceive,” Kovangiya stated. “The NDA Commandant does not conduct official engagements or communication via personal social media accounts or unofficial online platforms.”
To ensure you aren’t talking to a bot or a fraudster, the NDA emphasises that official business is never conducted via private DM. For the avoidance of doubt, the Academy communicates officially with the public only through its verified channels, including its website at nda.edu.ng and its official social media handles: Nigerian Defence Academy on Facebook, @NDefenceacademy on X, @nigeriandefenceacademy on Instagram, and @ndefeneceacademy on TikTok.
The Academy has taken a firm stance on liability, noting that any interaction with these impersonators is done at the individual’s own risk.
“Members of the public are hereby strongly advised to disregard and avoid any engagement with the fraudulent accounts,” the statement added. “The general public is urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.”
