Nigerian Military Dismisses Viral Videos of ‘Mass Killing,’ Brands Them Terrorists’ Propaganda Material

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Monday dismissed the viral videos of alleged mass killing of abducted villagers in Sokoto State, as well as the capture of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (Mrap), Vehicles in Zamfara State.

While refuting the viral videos in a statement on Monday, the Director Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, described the video footages as a terrorists’ propaganda material. 

This was as citizens are raising concern over alleged non compliance to the federal government’s directive to the service chiefs to relocate to Sokoto to coordinate the ongoing counter insurgency and anti banditry operation to liberate North West, particularly Sokoto and Zamfara State from the iron chain of the bandits. 

Gen Buba said: “On 29 Aug 24, at about 1700hrs, troops of OP HADARIN DAJI deployed at FOB  Zurmi in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State, embarked on fighting patrol to dislodge terror gathering at Kwashabawa Village. Troops engaged the terrorist en route the location. During the fight, while attempting to outflank the terrorist. Two of troops MRAPs got bogged down due to the swampy terrain occasioned by the rainy season. 

“While, troops tried to extricate the MRAPs, the terrorist mass up knowing the challenge troops had encountered with the MRAPs. Subsequently, troops dismounted and demobilzed the MRAPs, when efforts to backload them were futile. The sad demobilization of the MRAPs by troops was to prevent it from being useful to the terrorist after abandonment”. 

Buba stated that these situations further illustrate the effect of weather in changing conditions for ground operations. “In a related development, the attention of DHQ has been drawn to a trending video propagated from the terrorist camp. The video depicted the killing of several civilians in a mass grave.  It must be noted that, the incident never took place in Nigeria. Rather, it sadly took place in a nearby African country faced with terrorism,” he explained. 

The military operations spokesperson averred that the terrorist in an act of desperation, tried to manipulate the situation to mislead  gullible members of the public, adding that the armed forces unequivocally states that, at no time were 150 persons abducted in Gobir (Sokoto State). He stated that the rumoured abduction  was deliberately planted by the terrorist to undermine troops winning efforts and cover up terrorist weakness. 

He urged the public to be circumspect of the antics of the terrorist to propagate misinformation, disinformation and fake news as part of their war propaganda effort. Noting that these situations are not uncommon in war, Buba added that the dynamic and ever changing environment of war creates some of these  experiences. He also disclosed that troops retain operational flexibility to make adjustments in achieving the strategic objective of winning the war.

Meanwhile, citizens are raising concern over alleged non compliance to the federal government directive to the service chiefs to relocate to Sokoto to coordinate the ongoing counter insurgency and anti banditry operation to liberate North West, particularly Sokoto and Zamfara State from the iron chain of the bandits. There were jubilation in Sokoto following the directive by the federal government. 

But when asked if the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla had reported to Sokoto as directed by the Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle, the Naval Spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said that the movement of CNS cannot be made public for security reasons. 

According to him, “The CNS and all other service chiefs are working together as always. Details of their movement are not shared with the media except when directed to do so. Hence I have not been directed to share such details yet.

“If you check the Nigerian Navy social media pages, (Facebook, Instagram & X), you will notice that some details of CNS movement are shared there. However there are many other movements of the CNS that are not shared due to Operational Security (OPSEC)”. Adams-Aliu, however assured that once he is directed to share such details, he will be make it available to the public.

But when asked if the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has fully complied with the directive, the Acting Director Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau simply referred our correspondent to channel his inquires to the ministry of defence. He said: “Please direct your questions to the Ministry of Defence. Thank you”.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, and Director Army Public Relations, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu did not respond to messages sent to their mobile number as at press time. 

Meanwhile while, a top military source told Thisday that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, is out of the country on official duty. Another source said that the presence of the service chiefs in Sokoto is unnecessary as the field commanders are capable of handling the situation. He argued that North West and Sokoto in particular are not the only place ravaged with insecurity in the country to warrant all the service chiefs to relocate to Sokoto. “What happens to other parts of the country like North East, North Central and South South theatres  of operations if they all relocate to Sokoto,” he queried. 

Linus Aleke

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