Nigerian military authorities have refuted claims that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, accused residents of Borno and Yobe States of supporting terrorism, describing such reports as a misrepresentation of his remarks.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said, “At no time did the CDS indict or generalise that the good people of Borno and Yobe States are complicit in terrorism, as falsely portrayed”.
He explained that the CDS’ comments were aimed at encouraging stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities in addressing security challenges.
“Rather, the CDS emphasised the critical role of community partnership, vigilance, and collective responsibility in tackling the evolving threats facing the nation”, Uba stated.
The Defence Headquarters noted that the CDS referred to isolated incidents where criminal elements exploit community structures to support terrorist activities.
Providing context, Uba said, “He gave an example of a particular town where some wounded terrorists… were found within the community, which implied that some residents were complicit”, stressing that such cases do not represent entire populations.
The military warned that misinterpretation of such remarks could undermine ongoing operations.
“In view of the potential to misinform the public and undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts, it has become necessary to set the record straight”, the statement added.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Armed Forces pledged to continue protecting law-abiding citizens, while urging the media to verify facts and avoid sensational reporting.
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