Military Pensions Board disowns fake WhatsApp group, cautions retirees

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) has warned retirees and members of the public against engaging with a WhatsApp group falsely created in its name.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Mohammed, said the platform, titled Military Pensions Board, was created by unknown individuals and does not represent the official position of the agency.

He stressed that the MPB had not established any WhatsApp groups for pensioners or veterans, describing the operators of such platforms as fraudulent elements seeking to exploit vulnerable persons.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the MPB communicates with pensioners and stakeholders strictly through its official social media handles, press releases, official statements, and recognised communication channels,” Mohammed stated.

He assured that the welfare of retired military personnel remains the priority of the Board, urging pensioners to verify information through official contacts before acting on it.

The MPB, a statutory body responsible for administering and disbursing pensions and gratuities to retired military personnel, has in recent years digitised its operations to enhance transparency and efficiency. But the growing use of social media, the Board noted, has also created opportunities for fraudsters to impersonate institutions and mislead unsuspecting citizens.

(NAN)