The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has rejected reports claiming plans to establish a French military base in north-eastern Nigeria, calling them false and misleading.
In a statement on Monday, Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, dismissed the allegations as the work of mischief-makers. The reports emerged after Mahdi Shehu, a public affairs commentator, suggested on social media that French soldiers had arrived in Maiduguri following a supposed meeting with Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Femi Oluyede.
Buba strongly refuted the claims, stating, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria categorically denies this information as fake, totally false, and mischievous.” He urged the public to disregard such reports and cautioned against the spread of unverified information.
The DHQ reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s security, assuring citizens that no foreign military base is being established in the country.
