The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a strong rebuttal against a recent report by Amnesty International on insecurity in Nigeria, describing it as "a concoction of falsehood" that fails to acknowledge significant progress made by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
In a statement released on Friday, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, criticized the report for its "sweeping generalizations, lack of contextual depth, and failure to recognize the monumental strides" achieved by the military under the current administration.
"While we acknowledge the importance of civil society in promoting accountability and human rights, we must express strong reservations about the sweeping generalizations, lack of contextual depth, and the failure of the statement to recognize the monumental strides made by the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the current administration," Kangye stated.
Military Achievements Since 2023
According to Kangye, since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office in May 2023, the military has achieved notable successes, including:
- Neutralization of over 5,000 insurgents and bandits
- Recovery of more than 350 communities
- Rescue of 1,200 kidnapped civilians
He highlighted that the sustained presence of troops in areas such as Maru (Zamfara), Bokkos (Plateau), and Logo (Benue) has enabled displaced persons to begin returning home under military protection.
"Over 2,000 offensive operations were carried out in Zamfara State alone, leading to the rescue of 687 abductees and the neutralization of 1,500 terrorists," Kangye added.
Disputing Amnesty's Figures
The DHQ specifically refuted Amnesty International's casualty figures, which claimed 2,630 people were killed in Plateau State and 6,896 deaths in Benue State.
"Our records show 693 deaths in Benue during the review period, not 6,896. Furthermore, most of the alleged displacement figures are inconsistent with ground realities. Many IDP camps are now largely empty," Kangye emphasized.
He also disputed claims about areas allegedly overrun by bandits, stating that locations like Bafarawa and Gebe in Sokoto are within reach of military Forward Operating Bases, and regular joint operations have cleared bandit strongholds in the region.
The DHQ urged Amnesty International to engage with local realities and verify facts before publishing reports that could potentially mislead the public and undermine the morale of troops.
Amnesty's Original Claims
In its recent report, Amnesty International had accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect citizens from relentless attacks by armed groups and bandits. The organization claimed that 10,217 people have been killed and 672 villages sacked in the last two years, with Benue State alone recording 6,896 deaths, followed by Plateau State with 2,630 deaths.
The military's response highlights the ongoing tension between international human rights organizations and Nigerian security agencies regarding the assessment of the country's security challenges and the effectiveness of counter-insurgency efforts.
