Nigeria’s
Defense Headquarters has claimed that a prominent political leader from one of
the northeast states ravaged by members of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko
Haram, is sponsoring “a renewed campaign aimed at attracting
international condemnation and indictment of the Nigerian
military and its operations in the Northern part of the country.”
In a statement released today and titled “New Plot Against
Operations of Nigerian Military,” the Defense Headquarters asserted that the
ostensible campaign “is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio
visual materials, some of which are already trending in the social media,”
adding that the alleged plot “is to be coordinated and funded by a prominent
political leader whose state is presently under the State of Emergency.”
Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States, all part of the volatile
northeast section of Nigeria that has witnessed incessant terror attacks by
members of Boko Haram, are under emergency rule.
The military’s statement, which was signed by Major General
Chris Olukolade, the director of information at Defense Headquarters, did not
disclose the identity of the so-called Nigeria nor specify his home state or
political affiliation.
General Olukolade claimed that the details of the plot against
the Nigerian military was “already being fine-tuned by a group of media
practitioners” and would be “presented for the final ratification and funding
by the political figure.” He alleged that the plot “is expected to forcefully
whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular
religious group. The planners of this multi-media crusade also hope to use it
to gain some mileage in the drive to secure international attention as they
have not achieved this sufficiently despite previous efforts.”
The Nigerian military has come under international spotlight in
the aftermath of Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from their
dormitories in Chibok, Borno State on April 14. Boko Haram is still holding
most of the kidnapped girls at a location that remains unknown.
A few days ago, Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal
Alex Badeh, claimed that the Nigerian military had identified the secret
location where the abducted girls are being kept. He however ruled out the use
of force to rescue them, citing the likely high level of casualties in the
event of such a military operation. US military sources said they were
skeptical about the claim that the girls’ whereabouts had been found.
General Olukolade stated that the so-called plot against the military
was “also meant to reinforce the ongoing media campaign against the military,”
adding that it “was adopted as an alternative by those who are bent on
politicizing the ongoing counter terrorists operations in the northern part of
the country.”
He stated that a newspaper “last week published some of the
doctored pictures which the Defense Headquarters instantly repudiated, pointing
out that they do not represent activities or operations of the Nigerian
military.”
General Olukolade said the Defense Headquarters “wishes to
reiterate its rejection of pictures and video footages from unverifiable
sources claiming to reflect activities or so called atrocities purportedly
perpetrated by Nigerian security forces.” His statement added: “They do not reflect
or depict the true state of affairs or operations of Nigerian military or any
of the security forces. The public is advised to watch out and not allow
themselves to be hoodwinked by these acts of infamy orchestrated by this
desperate group.”
His statement “emphasized that the dastardly acts of terrorism
are against all Nigerians and all peace loving people all over the
world. No amount of propaganda by apologists of terror group can justify
the evil acts of terrorism by attempting to cast the Nigerian military and
security forces in bad light.”