The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a misleading and circulated report by a certain online medium which grossly misrepresented the recent remarks of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, regarding the fight against terrorism in Borno and Yobe States.
This was contained in a statement signed by Major General Samaila Uba, Director Defence information issued to newsmen.
It said ordinarily, the Defence Headquarters would not dignify such distortions with a response. However, in view of the potential to misinform the public and undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts, it has become necessary to set the record straight.
According to the statement, at no time did the CDS indict or generalize that the good people of Borno and Yobe States are complicit in terrorism, as falsely portrayed. Rather, the CDS emphasized the critical role of community partnership, vigilance and collective responsibility in addressing the evolving security challenges facing the nation. The CDS stated that “the fight against terrorism is not the responsibility of the military alone. It is a collective duty. The people of Borno and Yobe must reject terrorism in all its forms and actively support security agencies with credible and timely information.”
The statement said the CDS’ call for residents to “take ownership” of the fight against terrorism is consistent with globally accepted counterinsurgency practices, which recognize that sustainable security can only be achieved through close collaboration between security forces and local communities.
It said the CDS specifically referred to instances where criminal elements and collaborators exploit community structures to aid terrorist activities. He gave an example of this where he said “when Kukawa was attacked, and we were conducting cordon and search afterwards, two of the people that came to attack Kukawa, the wounded ones, were inside that village. That means the people were complicit. So for us to bring this to an end, all hands must be on deck. Our people must resolve that this has to come to an end”. This was clearly not a blanket accusation, but a factual observation aimed at encouraging communities to remain vigilant and supportive of security agencies.
It is important to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to their constitutional responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of the nation and protecting all law-abiding citizens. The military continues to record significant successes in ongoing operations across the North East and other theatres.
DHQ urges media organizations and content creators to exercise professionalism, verify facts and avoid sensationalism and wrong framing that could create unnecessary tension or erode public trust.
We deeply appreciate the resilience, cooperation and sacrifices of the people of Borno, Yobe and indeed all Nigerians in the collective fight against terrorism. It is important to also appreciate the great role being played by journalists in the fight against terrorism. Together we shall overcome the enemies of our nation.
