The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has firmly denied recent claims that bandits in Zamfara State hijacked two armoured vehicles and that over 150 civilians were kidnapped in Sokoto State. The DHQ also refuted reports of mass civilian killings and burials by terrorists, labeling the circulating videos as fake.
The allegations surfaced over the weekend through several videos. One video depicted bandits allegedly hijacking two armoured vehicles from the troops, while another showed terrorists conducting a mass burial. A third video claimed that over 150 residents were kidnapped in Sokoto State.
In a statement released on Monday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, clarified the situation. He explained that the two armoured vehicles seen in the video got stuck in a swampy area during a military operation at Kwashabawa Village, Zamfara State, on August 29. The troops, unable to recover the vehicles due to the challenging terrain, were forced to demobilize them to prevent their use by the terrorists.
“On August 29, troops of OP HADARIN DAJI deployed at FOB Zurmi in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State embarked on a fighting patrol to dislodge a gathering of terrorists at Kwashabawa Village,” Buba explained. “During the operation, two MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) got bogged down due to the swampy terrain caused by the rain. The troops demobilized the vehicles when efforts to recover them proved futile, ensuring they could not be used by the terrorists.”
Regarding the video of the mass burial, Major General Buba confirmed that the incident did not take place in Nigeria. He stated that the footage was from a neighboring African country also grappling with terrorism.
Addressing the rumors of mass abductions in Sokoto, Buba dismissed the claims as false, asserting that they were part of a terrorist propaganda campaign aimed at undermining the successes of the Nigerian military.
“The rumor of 150 persons being abducted in Gobir, Sokoto State, was deliberately planted by terrorists to discredit the achievements of our troops and to cover up their weaknesses,” Buba stated. “The public should remain vigilant and cautious of such propaganda, as terrorists often resort to misinformation, disinformation, and fake news as part of their psychological warfare tactics.”
Buba emphasized the importance of staying informed and not falling prey to the deceptive tactics used by terrorists, while reassuring the public that the armed forces remain committed to their mission of safeguarding the nation.
By Ebubedike Ochu
