Sept. 2, 2024

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that a viral video propagated by terrorists suggesting mass killing of allegedly abducted villagers in Sokoto is fake.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, on Monday in Abuja.

According to Buba, the video depicted the killing of several civilians in a mass grave, saying the incident never took place in Nigeria but in a nearby African country faced with terrorism.

“The terrorist in an act of desperation, tried to manipulate the situation to mislead gullible members of the public.

“The armed forces unequivocally states that, at no time were 150 persons abducted in Gobir (Sokoto State).

“The rumoured abduction was deliberately planted by the terrorist to undermine troops winning efforts and cover up terrorist weakness.

“On the whole, the public is urged to be circumspect of the antics of the terrorist to propagate misinformation, disinformation and fake news as part of their war propaganda effort.

“These situations are not uncommon in war.

“The dynamic and ever changing environment of war creates some of these experiences.

“Nevertheless, troops retain operational flexibility to make adjustments in achieving the strategic objective of winning the war,” he said.