Military refutes claims of leniency for terrorists, clarifies CDS remarks

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as misleading reports suggesting that the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, supports leniency for repentant terrorists at the expense of victims, insisting that his comments on Operation Safe Corridor were grossly misquoted.

In a statement signed by Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for the DHQ, the military high command said the CDS’s remarks were deliberately distorted in a viral social media post, particularly on Facebook, which it accused of selectively amplifying certain phrases while ignoring the full context of his speech.

According to the statement, General Oluyede’s comments were made during a professional military doctrine lecture on the multi-dimensional nature of modern conflict resolution.

The DHQ stressed that his remarks were not aimed at favouring former terrorists over victims but rather highlighted globally recognised strategies that combine both kinetic (combat) and non-kinetic (rehabilitative) approaches in counter-insurgency operations.

The military clarified that Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme. Instead, it is a structured deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration initiative designed strictly for surrendered, screened and low-risk former combatants who have voluntarily disengaged from insurgent groups.

“Operation SAFE CORRIDOR forms part of a broader counter-insurgency strategy. Evidence shows that hundreds of individuals have passed through this process since inception, contributing to intelligence gathering and weakening insurgent structures,” the statement said.

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The DHQ maintained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain firmly committed to neutralising active terrorists and safeguarding law-abiding citizens across all theatres of operation. It added that the same leadership being misrepresented continues to direct aggressive military campaigns nationwide.

The statement further explained that modern warfare increasingly recognises deradicalisation as a strategic tool to reduce recruitment pipelines and disrupt cycles of violence. It argued that the viral post ignored this critical dimension and instead promoted what it described as a simplistic and misleading narrative.

The Defence Headquarters urged members of the public to disregard sensational and out-of-context interpretations of official statements, rely on verified communication channels for accurate information, and continue to support ongoing military efforts to restore peace and security.

Reaffirming its institutional stance, the DHQ described the Armed Forces of Nigeria as a professional body guided by law, doctrine and an unwavering commitment to national security, adding that General Oluyede’s leadership reflects decades of distinguished service and operational experience in tackling complex security challenges.