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The Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) have issued an urgent public disclaimer following the discovery of a fraudulent Facebook account impersonating the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura.
Military authorities confirmed that an unknown individual is operating a fake social media profile under the General’s name, using it to disseminate misleading information and unauthorized directives to the public.
According to the Ministry, the impostor has been publishing content deliberately designed to resemble official military communiqués. The posts reportedly address sensitive issues but are entirely fabricated and did not originate from the Chief of Defence Staff or the RSLAF leadership.
“The general public is strongly advised not to believe or act upon any misleading information found on this unauthorized page,” the statement warned, adding that the content is intended to deceive the public and potentially undermine the office of the CDS.
To help the public identify the scam, the RSLAF has released screenshots and other digital evidence of the fraudulent page alongside the official disclaimer. These exhibits highlight several false posts currently in circulation.
The military leadership further emphasized that the Chief of Defence Staff does not operate a personal Facebook account to issue official military policies or public directives.
The Ministry of Defence urged citizens and members of the media to rely exclusively on established and verified channels for information concerning national security and military operations. Official updates, the Ministry noted, are available on the verified Facebook page of the Ministry of Defence/Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the RSLAF disclosed that it is working with relevant authorities to trace the source of the impersonation and ensure the fraudulent page is taken down. Members of the public who may have interacted with the fake account are encouraged to report the profile to Facebook to curb the spread of misinformation.
