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  • DHQ: we’re unaware of North communities’ peace deal with bandits

    DHQ: we’re unaware of North communities’ peace deal with bandits

    • Military hands over 75 rehabilitated terrorists to Borno govt

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said it was not aware of communities in the North that seek peace deals with terrorists/bandits for protection.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.—Gen. Markus Kangye, announced this while addressing reporters at the DHQ yesterday in Abuja.

    Various reports had said some Northwest communities were allegedly brokering peace agreements with terrorists and bandits to avert further violent attacks.

    But Kangye said: “To the best of our knowledge, we have never had any peace deal with bandits, as mentioned. Why do some communities want to do that? I don’t think they wanted to accept approval from the military to do so. And the military, I don’t think, is aware of that.

    “The military is conducting its operations according to the rules of engagement. So, if any community calls for a mandate for peace with terrorists, the military does not support that. We don’t support that.”

    Also the DHQ yesterday said it handed over 75 rehabilitated terrorists to the Borno State government in past two week.

    The DHQ said troops on operations across the country killed scores of terrorists within the week.

    Those rehabilitated and handed over comprised seven adult males, 34 adult females, and 34 children.

    Read Also: WIMA seeks govt support to access equipment for mechanised farming

    Kangye said: “Between March 10 and 19, 2025, scores of terrorists, comprising adult males, adult females and some children, surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation following the ongoing onslaught by our gallant troops.”

    The spokesman said troops apprehended two suspected terrorists who had been on military watch list and one gunrunner, Shehu Bagiwaye.

    He said they were apprehended in Gudu and Gusau local government areas of Sokoto and Zamfara states.

    Kangye said between March 10 and 20, troops arrested 23 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen petroleum products worth over N461 million.

    “The breakdown includes 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined AGO.

    “Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums and 21 illegal refining sites.

    “Other items recovered include pumping machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and some vehicles amongst others,” he said.

    According to him, on March 10 and 13, troops ambushed some terrorists in Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State and Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and engaged terrorists in a gun dwell.

    “During the encounters, some of the terrorists were neutralised, while some arms and ammunition as well as mobile phones were recovered from them,” he said.

  • We are not aware of North’s communities peace deal with bandits – DHQ 

    We are not aware of North’s communities peace deal with bandits – DHQ 

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that it was not aware of communities in the North that seek peace deals with terrorists/bandits for protection.

    The Director Defence Media Operations Maj.- Gen Markus Kangye said this on Thursday while fielding questions at a press briefing at the DHQ, on Thursday.

    Media reports revealed that some North West communities are allegedly brokering peace agreements with terrorists and bandits to safeguard against violent attack.

    But Maj.-Gen. Kangye said: “to the best of our knowledge, we have never had any peace deal with bandits as mentioned. Why do communities want to do that? I don’t think they wanted to accept approval from the military to do so. And the military, I don’t think, is aware of that.

    Read Also: DHQ rejects ranking of Nigeria as sixth most- affected by terrorism

    “The military is conducting its operations according to the rules of the engagement . So if any community calls for a mandate for peace with terrorists, the military does not support that. We don’t support that,”.

    Reacting to invasion of some soldiers of electricity distribution companies in Lagos, Maj.-Gen Kangye said the military was a disciplined profession and would not tolerate such acts.

    He said there are chains of command and the issues must have been dealt with appropriately.

    He said: “”The armed forces does not and never tolerate any unprofessional conduct from soldiers.

    “The military has prescribed punishment for such an act. In some cases soldiers were even dismissed from the service base on the terms of the offence. So I’m sure that it should have been dealt with at the unit level,”.

  • DHQ rejects ranking of Nigeria as sixth most- affected by terrorism

    DHQ rejects ranking of Nigeria as sixth most- affected by terrorism

    The Defence Headquarters(DHQ) has dismissed the listing of Nigeria by  Global Terrorism(GTI) Index  as the sixth country most-affected by terrorism in the world.

    It  said there was no how  the March 5 report by a group  (GTI) which it indirectly  described  as  an ‘outsider’ would be more reliable than the Nigerian  accounts on  counter-terrorism efforts in the country.

     The DHQ consequently advised the public, especially the media, to ignore the report which in the same breath it said was not being countered.

      Director of  Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen.  Markus Kangye spoke on the report while fielding questions from reporters in Abuja yesterday.

    Also in Abuja, the Federal Government officially designated Simon Ekpa and 15 other Nigerians as terror financiers. It also declared the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist organisation and financier.

    Four months ago, the military confirmed the re-emergence of Lukarawa in the country after it was first dislodged in 2020.

    The presence of the group which is affiliated with terrorists in the Sahel, particularly  Mali and Niger republics, became a major source of concern after it killed east 15 people in Kebbi State.

    Nine of its members were declared wanted by the DHQ.

    Kangye, in the chat with reporters,  tried to justify DHQ’s position on the report by using a metaphorical family.

    He said the information released by the head of the family, which he likened to the DHQ, is usually more correct than that of an outsider.

    His words: “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.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu praises FirstBank’s Iconic Tower, says project will redefine Lagos economy

    ‘’Which one would be more correct or believable? The one that I will tell you as the head of the house or the one that someone is reporting from outside?

    ‘’The one I think that will give you the correct information is that of the head of the house.

    “So you, as a member of the media, that has been attending this meeting every week, you should be able to stand and correct what they are giving Nigerians. 

      “I’m not countering what they put out there, but as observers, I think you should be the better person that will give the correct version of what is happening in Nigeria.”

    On sit-at-home order in the  Southeast, the Defence spokesman  restated that security agencies were working hard to free the region from Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) and Eastern Security Network(ESN) fighters.

    He said:  “Who gave the order? IPOB /ESN criminals and because of what is happening in the Southeast Operation Udo Ka was set up just like Hadin Kai in Northeast .

    “ The locals in some areas, for fear of being attacked, fear of being killed opt to stay at home.

    “Our commanders under Operation Udo Ka are doing their best. They are doing so well to ensure that Southeast is freed from the  IPOB/ESN. “

    Fed. Govt dubs  Ekpa, others terror sponsors; Lakurawa terror group 

    A Biafran agitator Ekpa, 15 other Nigerians and the Lakurawa sect were classified as terror financiers following a recommendation by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC), an independent body led by the Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi(SAN).

    Godstime  Iyare, Chukwuekwu Iyare,  Helen Ugbomor  Iyare, Francis   Mmadubuchi, John  Onwumere,  Chikwuka   Eze, Edwin   Chukwuedo and Chiwendu  Owoh are among those listed.

  • DHQ questions credibility of Global Index report on terrorism 

    DHQ questions credibility of Global Index report on terrorism 

    The Defence Headquarters has asserted that reports from the Nigerian military provide a more accurate account of counter-terrorism efforts than assessments from external organizations.

    Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Markus Kangye, made this statement while responding to questions about the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), released on March 5.

    The latest GTI report ranked Nigeria as the sixth most terrorism-affected country globally. 

    However, Kangye insisted that only the Nigerian military can provide a true picture of the nation’s counter-terrorism efforts.

    Using illustration of a family, Kangye said the information released by the Head of the family, which in this case is the Defence Headquarters, is usually more correct than that of an outsider. 

    He said: “Something is happening in my house. I’m the head of the house. I have children, I have wife someone else is reporting what is happening in my house to me. Which one would be more correct or believable ? The one that I will tell you as the head of the house , or the one that someone is reporting from outside? The one I think that will give you the correct information is that of the head of the house.

    “So you, as a member of the media, that has been attending this meeting every week, you should be able to stand and correct what they are giving Nigerians. “

    Kangye, however, said that while he wasn’t going against the report, urged the media to give the correct version of counterterrorism efforts in the country. 

    He said: “I’m not countering what they put out there, but as observers, I think you should be the better person that will give the correct version of what is happening in Nigeria.”

    On issue of the sit-at-home order in South East, the Defence spokesman while the military is working very hard to free the region from IPOB/ESN fighters, residents out of South East still stay indoors on Mondays out of fear.

    Read Also: Disregard “malicious allegations” on visa denial to attend Invictus Games – DHQ urges Nigerians

    He said: “Who gave the order? IPOB /ESN criminals and because of what is happening in the South East Operation Udo Ka was set up just like Hadin Kai in North East. 

    “And I want to tell you that for the past three leadership of the commanders we have in the Southeast, they have been doing very well. And if they give them sit at home order, they will tell them more about your normal business but the locals in some areas, for fear of being attacked, fear of being killed, they will stay at home. 

    “ Our commanders under that operation are doing their best. They are doing so well to ensure that Southeast has a free from IPOB/ESN. “ 

  • Influx of foreign fighters reinforcing terrorist attacks in N/East, N/West – DHQ

    Influx of foreign fighters reinforcing terrorist attacks in N/East, N/West – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters has attributed the recent resurgence of terrorist attacks in North East and North West to alleged influx of foreign fighters providing reinforcement to local terror groups.

    The Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

    “The resurgence in terror attacks can be attributable to the influx of foreign fighters that come in as reinforcement for these terrorists.

    “These foreign fighters are from the Sahelian Region. The other contributing factor are the local collaborators that form a support base for these terrorists.

    “They serve as informants to the terrorist reporting on troop movement. In spite of the situation, troops are profoundly conscious of their role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation,” he said.

    Buba said that troops might record occasional tactical setbacks but noted that “strategic objective to break the terrorist will to fight remained unhindered”

    According to him, defeating an enemy means destroying or breaking his will to fight and the military is achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, commanders and senior leadership.

    He said the troops had continued to take away the terrorists’ most important assets such as their logistics, administrative and fighting capabilities.

    Read Also: Troops kill 109 terrorists, destroy 10 illegal refineries, says DHQ

    “And of course, we are applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorist will to fight.

    “Wars are fought and won all over the world by destroying the enemy’s will to fight. And we are bent on achieving just that.

    “We understand that this war is not a quick fix, but a long and enduring military operation at the end of which these terrorists will be destroyed and we will have a better world.

    “Overall, we understand that we all want to be in a different situation, a situation whereby all this insecurity is over and the terrorist is completely eradicated,” he added.

    (NAN)

  • Troops kill 109 terrorists, destroy 10 illegal refineries, says DHQ

    Troops kill 109 terrorists, destroy 10 illegal refineries, says DHQ

    Troops on operation across the country have killed 109 and arrested 81 criminals in the past week.

    The troops also arrested six oil thieves and rescued 43 kidnap victims.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, announced this in a statement.

    Gen. Buba said troops on operation in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 10 illegal refining sites, 10 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 12 boats, and four storage tanks.

    He said troops recovered 631,709 litres of stolen crude oil, 3,140 litres of illegally refined diesel and 2,250 litres of petrol in the past week. 

    “Other items recovered include three pumping machines, 12 speedboats, 20 drums, two motorcycles, one mobile phone and four vehicles among others,” Buba said.

    According to the defence spokesman, troops recovered 21 assorted weapons and 124 assorted ammunition. 

    The breakdown, according to Buba, are 9 AK47 rifles, 5 fabricated rifles, 4 dane guns, 3 locally made pistols, 7 magazines, 97 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5 live cartridges, three baofeng radios, four vehicles, six motorcycles and four mobile phones amongst other items.

    He said: “Troops are sustaining the winning ways of ongoing operational engagements. Accordingly, citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces.”

  • 34 terrorists, six soldiers killed in recent Damboa attack, says DHQ

    34 terrorists, six soldiers killed in recent Damboa attack, says DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that 34 terrorists were killed during an attack on Sabon Gari village in Damboa Local government Area of Borno State on Saturday, January 4.

    Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba said this in a statement on Wednesday.

    Gen. Buba said 23 AK 47 rifles were recovered from the terrorists during the attack.

    “Sadly, six personnel were killed in action,” he said.

    The defence spokesman explained that the terrorist had attempted to surprise troops and retaliate for the recent killing of their commander and combatants in Borno State.

    He said: “The terrorists were taken unaware, when troops fighting a patrol returning to base foiled their planned attack as soon as the attack commenced. 

    “Additionally,a troop reinforcement team composed of elements of the Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilante as well as hybrid forces timely arrived at the scene to overpower the terrorists. 

    “Furthermore , the troops’ reinforcement team encountered Improvised Explosive Device injuring the Vigilante Commander. The reinforcement team arrived timely to decimate the fleeing terrorist.”

    Read Also: DHQ declares bandit leader Bello Turji ‘a dead man walking’

    Gen. Buba further explained the air component of Operation HADIN KAI also conducted air interdiction on the fleeing terrorist, after which battle damage assessment revealed that several terrorists were killed and weapons recovered during the encounters.

    Gen. Buba said: “On the whole, 34 terrorist were killed and 23 AK 47 weapons recovered. Troops also recovered with over 200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. Sadly, 6 personnel were killed in action.

    “Kindly note that the names of killed in action personnel are withheld to allow administrative procedures of notifying their Next of Kin be concluded. Accordingly, the media is requested to respect the process, please.” 

  • No foreign military base in Nigeria, says DHQ

    No foreign military base in Nigeria, says DHQ

    • Military high command moves to harmonise court martial procedures

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied reports that the French military was planning to establish a base in Nigeria.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the DHQ said the clarification was necessitated by the reports making the rounds that French soldiers had arrived in the country.

    “The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online reports alleging the arrival of the first contingent of French soldiers in Maiduguri (Borno State) towards establishing a French Military base in Northeast Nigeria.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby state unequivocally that this information is fake, totally false and mischievous. It would be recalled that Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, recently addressed this matter in different media fora in which he debunked the news and such speculations.”

    The statement urged the general public to disregard the news and any such speculations on the matter.

    Read Also: DHQ dismisses Amnesty International’s claim of 10,000 civilian deaths in Military detention

    “It is clear that these are the antics of mischief makers,” it added.

    The DHQ added that the military would continue to carry out its constitutional responsibilities professionally and ensure the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

    Also, the DHQ has said it is set to harmonise court martial procedures across the services in line with the nation’s justice system.

    The Chief Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, announced this at the opening of the conference on Rules of Procedure, Substance Abuse and Sexual Orientation in the Armed Forces of Nigeria yesterday in Abuja.

  • DHQ to Amnesty: Provide proof of civilian death allegations

    DHQ to Amnesty: Provide proof of civilian death allegations

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described as “shocking and mischievous” an allegation by Amnesty International (AI) that 10,000 civilians died in Nigerian military detention facilities in 14 years of counter-insurgency operations.

    The military high command refuted the allegations in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, yesterday.

    The Amnesty International at a press conference on Thursday had among other spurious allegations alleged that since the onset of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East of Nigeria (NE) over 10,000 civilians died in Nigerian military detention facilities

    But the defence spokesman said the allegations lacked merit “particularly as it is coming at this ending cycle stage of the counter terrorism war in the North East”.

    He said: “Though the Armed Forces are not willing to join words with Amnesty International, it is of utmost necessity to set the records straight.

    “The Nigerian military is a professional force which conducts its operations within the dictates of international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflicts.

    “Though the operational environment has been complex and challenging, troops have painstakingly abided by the rules of engagement to extensively avoid civilian casualties in whatever shape or form.

    “Additionally, whenever arrests are made, suspects are profiled, after which the suspects are handed over to the appropriate agency for release or prosecution.

    Read Also: Eight terrorist leaders surrender in Northcentral, says DHQ

    “As a deterence to unethical conducts, there are standing courts within the operational theatres to ensure justice is immediately administered to any erring personnel during operations.

    “Overall, it is necessary to reiterate that the armed forces, under the able leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, remains professional in carrying out its constitutional mandates in line with global best practices.”

    The military high command, however, urged the Amnesty International to substantiate the details of the allegations to “enable the military conduct an inquiry in order to determine the authenticity or otherwise of the made allegations.”

  • Eight terrorist leaders surrender in Northcentral, says DHQ

    Eight terrorist leaders surrender in Northcentral, says DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said that eight terrorist commanders in Northcentral region had surrendered to troops.

    It said more had also indicated interest to surrender in the coming weeks.

    Those that have surrendered, according to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward, are Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, Ardo Idi (alias Alhaji Lawal), Lawal Kwalba, Salkado, Yellow Ibrahim, Gana’e and Babangida.

    Gen. Buba said the surrendering was occasioned by overtures from the terrorist leadership based on troops’ onslaught against them.

    He said “a non-kinetic collaborative effort with stakeholders have been deployed to encourage the surrendering process.”

    Gen. Buba, however, said that despite the surrendering of terrorist leaders, troops would continue “to sustain operational tempo in order to destroy or cause further surrendering by terrorists.”

    Giving an update on troops’ successes within the week, the defence spokesman said troops killed 135 terrorists and arrested 185 criminals across theatres of operation.

    Read Also: Lukarawa terrorists won’t prevail in Nigeria, DHQ assures Senate

    He said troops also arrested 61 oil thieves and rescued 129 kidnap victims.

    “Furthermore, troops recovered 113 assorted weapons and 2,415 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 72 AK47 rifles, 11 fabricated rifles, 15 Dane guns, three locally made pistols, eight pump action guns, four hand grenades, one RPG bomb and tube.

    “Others are 1,554 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 380 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 203 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 129 live cartridges, 28 shotgun cartridges, 500 empty case of MG ammo, 30 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 49 rounds of 5.7mm ammo, 165 live cartridges, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo and 38 magazines, among other items,” Gen. Buba said.