Abuja, Nigeria — The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as misleading and false a viral social media narrative alleging that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, expressed sympathy for terrorists through his remarks on Operation SAFE CORRIDOR.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Sumaila Uba, said a Facebook post had deliberately distorted the CDS’s comments by selectively amplifying certain phrases while ignoring their full context.
According to the DHQ, the misleading post falsely portrayed the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as prioritising leniency for terrorists over justice for victims — a claim it described as inaccurate and harmful to ongoing national security efforts.
The military clarified that Operation SAFE CORRIDOR is not an amnesty programme, but a carefully designed deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration initiative specifically for surrendered, screened and low-risk former combatants.
It explained that the programme is part of a broader counter-insurgency framework that combines both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to combat insurgency and restore peace in affected areas.
“Operation SAFE CORRIDOR simply addresses a different category of individuals — those who have voluntarily disengaged and met strict profiling criteria,” the statement said.
The DHQ noted that since its inception, hundreds of individuals have passed through the programme, contributing to intelligence gathering and weakening insurgent networks.
It further stated that General Oluyede’s remarks were made during a professional military doctrine lecture, where he underscored the importance of adopting a multi-dimensional approach to conflict resolution in line with global best practices.
According to the military, the CDS’s position was that rehabilitation initiatives complement battlefield successes rather than replace them.
“Any attempt to frame these remarks as sympathy for terrorists is a gross misinterpretation,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its operational posture, the DHQ stressed that the Armed Forces remain fully committed to neutralising active terrorists and protecting law-abiding citizens across all theatres of operation.
It also pointed out that the same military leadership being misrepresented continues to direct aggressive operations nationwide against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
The DHQ further emphasised that modern warfare increasingly recognises deradicalisation as an essential tool for reducing recruitment pipelines and breaking cycles of violence, warning that the viral post ignored this strategic dimension in favour of a simplistic and misleading narrative.
The military therefore urged Nigerians to disregard sensational and out-of-context interpretations of official statements, rely on verified channels for accurate information on military operations, and continue supporting efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security across the country.
Reiterating confidence in the leadership of General Oluyede, the Defence Headquarters described the Armed Forces of Nigeria as a professional institution guided by law, doctrine and an unwavering commitment to national security.
