Army Raises Alarm Over Fraudsters Soliciting Funds for NADCEL 2026, Vows Crackdown

The Nigerian Army has raised the alarm over the activities of fraudsters and criminal syndicates allegedly soliciting funds from unsuspecting individuals and organisations under the guise of seeking sponsorship for the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL, 2026.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army warned members of the public, financial institutions, corporate organisations and government agencies to disregard any request for funds purportedly made on behalf of the military for the celebration.

The Army said it had observed the circulation of fake letters, proposals and sponsorship requests by impostors falsely claiming to represent the institution and seeking financial support for the forthcoming event.

It stated: “The Nigerian Army wishes to urgently alert the general public to the activities of unscrupulous individuals and criminal syndicates who are fraudulently soliciting funds under the guise of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026.”

According to the statement, “These impostors have been circulating fake letters, proposals and sponsorship requests to individuals, financial institutions, corporate organizations and government agencies, falsely claiming to represent the Nigerian Army and seeking financial support for NADCEL 2026.”

The Army stressed that any request for funds, sponsorship, donations or partnerships not expressly authorised through official channels should be considered fraudulent.

“The Nigerian Army categorically and unequivocally states that any such request for funds, sponsorship, donations or partnerships that is not expressly authorized through official Nigerian Army channels is fraudulent and should be treated as a criminal act,” it said.

While confirming that NADCEL 2026 is an official event scheduled to hold from July 1 to July 6 as part of activities marking the 163rd Anniversary of the Nigerian Army, the military maintained that all legitimate communications regarding the celebration would only be conveyed through recognised and verifiable Army platforms.

“For the avoidance of doubt, NADCEL 2026, scheduled to hold from 1 to 6 July 2026 in commemoration of the 163rd Anniversary of the Nigerian Army, is an official event. All legitimate communications regarding the celebration are strictly conveyed through recognized and verifiable Nigerian Army platforms and channels,” the statement added.

The Army urged Nigerians to exercise caution and verify any request made in its name before taking action.

It warned: “Please do not respond to, engage with or honour any unsolicited financial request made in the name of the Nigerian Army without proper verification.”

The military further declared that it neither condones nor authorises any form of fundraising by individuals or groups acting on its behalf.

It also vowed to pursue and prosecute those behind the fraudulent scheme, saying, “Anyone found impersonating the institution, forging official documents, or engaging in fraudulent solicitation will be relentlessly pursued, apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The statement disclosed that the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Military Police and other relevant security agencies had intensified efforts to identify and apprehend all those involved in the criminal activities.

Members of the public were encouraged to promptly report suspicious communications, requests or activities linked to the scam to the nearest military formation or law enforcement agency.