The Nigerian army this afternoon declared all Facebook accounts in the name of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General TY Buratai, to be fake.

“So far, three such accounts exist with various types of names using photographs of the COAS in uniform and that of Director Defence Information as profile photographs,” Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said.

Col. Usman berated operators of the Facebook accounts, describing them as “unscrupulous and criminal elements” who are “through Facebook platform requesting for friendship, extort and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”

The Army Spokesman said that “while the matter has been reported to Facebook and relevant security agencies for tracking, arrest and prosecution of the criminals, the public is please requested to note and advised not to accept any friendship request or overture from any of such Social media accounts.”

•Photo shows COAS, Maj.-Gen. Buratai.