DHQ Challenges Credibility of Global Terrorism Index
The military high command has questioned the credibility of the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), which ranked Nigeria as the sixth most terrorism-affected country globally.
The GTI report, released on March 5, gave Nigeria a score of 7.658, moving up from eighth place in 2023 and 2024, and recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024.
While reacting to the report, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said the reports from the military provide a more accurate account of the country’s counter-terrorism efforts than external sources.
General Kangye noted that information from those directly involved in a situation is more credible than that from outsiders.
He said the Nigerian military’s counter-terrorism efforts have shown significant progress, with over 120,000 former combatants surrendering in the north east, and the recovery of territories previously under terrorist control.
According to him, “Something is happening in my house. I’m the head of the house. I have children, I have a wife, and someone else is reporting what is happening in my house to me. Which one would be more correct? The one that I will tell you as the head of the house or the one that is reported from outside?
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“The one I think will give you the correct information is that of the head of the house. As members of the media who attend this meeting every week, you should be able to stand and correct what they are giving Nigerians.”
He urged the media to give the correct version of happenings in the country.
Regarding the sit-at-home order in the South-east, Kangye said residents, out of fear, still stay indoors on Mondays.
He stated that the military was working to free the region from IPOB/ESN fighters.
General Kangye added: “Who gave the order? IPOB/ESN criminals. Because of what is happening in the South-east, Operation Udo Ka was set up, just like Operation Hadin Kai in the North-east.
“I want to tell you that the commanders we have in the South-east have been doing very well. If they give a “sit-at-home” order, the commanders will tell the locals to go about their normal business.
“However, in some areas, locals will stay at home due to fear of being attacked or killed. The commanders under that operation are doing their best”.
He stated that they are doing exceptionally well to ensure that the Southeast is freed from IPOB/ESN.
Earlier in his brief, General Kangye revealed that troops across all operational theatres killed 92 terrorists, including terrorist Commander Abba Alai, popularly known as Amirul Khalid of Alafa.
He added that they also arrested 111 criminal elements and rescued 75 hostages in one week.
By PRNigeria
