2023: Fraudsters Using My Name, Picture On Social Media – Babangida Raises Alarm

A former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has raised alarm over the use of his name and picture on social media to defraud Nigerians.

In a statement on Friday in Minna, the State capital, the spokesman to the former leader, Salman Yusuf, said Babangida does not operate any social media account.

Yusuf urged Nigerians to beware of internet fraudsters using his principal’s name and picture to send wrong signals all in the name of politics.

He pointed out that the former Nigerian leader will only make his opinions on any national issue known through official channels.

Yusuf added that Babangida’s faith in Nigeria is unshakeable, and he is optimistic that as a people, the country shall overcome its current national challenges.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a plethora of fake social media accounts, especially Facebook, bearing General Babangida’s name and photos. We wish to state that IBB has never owned nor operated any social media account, and he does not intend to operate any now or in the near future.

“The surfeit of Facebook accounts bearing his photos and names are fake. The fake accounts are the creation of identity thieves and cyber fraudsters, local and international, who steal the identity of prominent people to defraud, misinform and commit heinous crimes against Nigerians and foreigners alike. General Babangida does not comment on national issues on social media.

“That is absolutely unnecessary because there are official channels available to him to communicate his stand on any national issue to the authorities. Besides, he has unfettered access to several credible mainstream media that he can talk to any time he feels strongly about any matter.

“We implore the general public, indeed, all Nigerians, to please ignore the warped imaginations and antics of cyber criminals who do not mean well for our great country.

“Babangida’s faith in Nigeria is unshakeable, and he is optimistic that as a people, we shall overcome our current national challenges if we do not grow weary and if we resolve to get our leadership question right.

“We urge Nigerians to get involved in the democratic process, conduct themselves peacefully, and exercise their constitutional rights by voting for candidates of their choice in the coming general elections.”