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By Philip Nwosu
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has dismissed a viral social media narrative alleging that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is prioritising leniency for terrorists over justice for victims. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the claim stemmed from a distorted interpretation of remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, regarding Operation Safe Corridor.
According to the DHQ, the narrative, circulating particularly on Facebook, selectively amplified certain phrases while ignoring the full context of the CDS’s comments; thereby presenting an inaccurate portrayal that undermines on-going national security efforts.
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The military clarified that Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme, but a structured deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration initiative designed specifically for surrendered, screened and low-risk former combatants.
It explained that the programme is part of a broader counter-insurgency strategy that combines both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, noting that hundreds of individuals have undergone the process since its inception, contributing to intelligence gathering and weakening insurgent networks.
The DHQ further stated that the CDS’s remarks were made during a professional military doctrine lecture, where he emphasised the importance of multi-dimensional conflict resolution strategies.
“His comments highlighted global best practices where rehabilitation complements battlefield successes, not replaces them. Any attempt to portray these remarks as sympathy for terrorists is a gross misinterpretation,” the statement said.
Reaffirming its stance, the Armed Forces said it remains committed to neutralising active terrorists and protecting law-abiding citizens across the country. It added that Operation Safe Corridor targets only those who have voluntarily disengaged from insurgent activities and have met strict profiling criteria, while military operations against active threats continue across various theatres.
The DHQ also stressed that modern warfare increasingly recognises deradicalisation as a key tool in disrupting recruitment channels and breaking cycles of violence, warning that the viral post ignored this critical dimension.
