Military Clarifies CDS Comments on Community Role in Counterterrorism
The Defence Headquarters has refuted what it described as a misleading online report that misrepresented comments made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, concerning the fight against terrorism in Borno and Yobe States.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the military authority said the report distorted the intent of the CDS’s remarks and risked misleading the public as well as undermining ongoing counterterrorism operations.
According to the statement, the CDS did not at any time indict or generalize that residents of Borno State and Yobe State were complicit in terrorism, contrary to claims attributed to him in the circulated report. Rather, his remarks were aimed at emphasizing the importance of community involvement in addressing insecurity.
The Defence Headquarters explained that the CDS underscored the need for collaboration between security agencies and civilians, noting that the fight against terrorism cannot be won by the military alone. He called for residents to remain vigilant, reject extremist elements, and provide timely and credible information to security forces.
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The statement further clarified that the CDS referenced isolated cases where criminal elements exploit community structures, citing an example in which individuals linked to a terrorist attack were reportedly found within a community. This, it said, was presented as an illustration of the challenges faced in counterinsurgency operations, not a blanket accusation against entire populations.
The military authority stressed that the remarks were consistent with established global counterinsurgency practices, which emphasize the role of local communities in supporting security operations to achieve sustainable peace.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Armed Forces of Nigeria stated that it remains focused on fulfilling its constitutional mandate of defending the country’s territorial integrity and protecting law-abiding citizens, while noting ongoing operational successes across multiple theatres, particularly in the North-East.
The Defence Headquarters also urged media organizations and content creators to maintain professionalism by verifying information before publication, warning that sensational or inaccurate reporting could create unnecessary tension and erode public trust.
It expressed appreciation to the people of Borno, Yobe, and Nigerians at large for their resilience and cooperation in the collective effort to combat terrorism, while acknowledging the role of journalists in supporting national security through responsible reporting.
By PRNigeria
