Army debunks fake recruitment scam circulating online

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigerian Army has issued a strong disclaimer against a fraudulent recruitment advertisement falsely claiming the availability of the “Nigerian Army Direct Short Service Course (DSSC) 29 Application Form 2026” on social media and other platforms.

In a press release signed by Colonel Anele Appolonia, Acting Director of the Directorate of Army Public Relations, the Army described the ad as “fake, false and misleading as no such advertisement was authorized by the Nigerian Army.”

The statement clarified that “The Nigerian Army has not commenced any recruitment or commissioning exercise for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) or Short Service Commission (SSC) at this time.”

It urged the public to “disregard the said advertisement, as it did not emanate from the Nigerian Army or any of its authorized channels.”

Colonel Appolonia emphasised official communication protocols, noting that “whenever recruitment exercises are approved to commence, the public will be duly informed through the official platforms, including the Nigerian Army website, official social media accounts and through publications on the national dailies along with other verified communication channels, with adequate publicity.”

The Army also warned against scammers, stating it “does not charge any fee for recruitment into its ranks.”

Members of the public were cautioned to “remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to fraudsters who use fake recruitment notices to deceive and defraud unsuspecting individuals.”

Those with information on such frauds were encouraged to “promptly report to the nearest security agency or appropriate authorities for necessary action.”