By Nkechi Eze
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed what it described as a misleading narrative circulating on social media over remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, concerning Operation Safe Corridor.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the military said a Facebook post had deliberately distorted the context of the CDS’s comments by selectively highlighting certain phrases while ignoring the broader explanation given during the engagement.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the misleading post falsely portrayed the Armed Forces of Nigeria as prioritising leniency for terrorists over justice for victims, a claim it said is inaccurate and capable of undermining ongoing national security efforts.
The military clarified that Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme but a carefully structured deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration initiative targeted strictly at surrendered, screened and low-risk former combatants. It explained that the programme forms part of a broader counter-insurgency strategy that combines both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in tackling insurgency.
Defence Headquarters noted that since the inception of the programme, hundreds of individuals have undergone the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process, providing useful intelligence that has helped weaken insurgent networks and strengthen security operations.
It further explained that the comments by Olufemi Oluyede were delivered during a professional military doctrine lecture where he emphasised the importance of multidimensional conflict resolution strategies. According to the statement, the CDS referenced global best practices where rehabilitation programmes complement battlefield successes rather than replace them.
The military said any attempt to frame the remarks as sympathy for terrorists represents a gross misinterpretation of the message delivered by the defence chief.
While reiterating its stance, the Armed Forces stressed that it remains fully committed to neutralising active terrorists and safeguarding law-abiding citizens across the country. It added that the same leadership currently being misrepresented continues to direct aggressive operations in multiple theatres of conflict nationwide.
The statement explained that the focus of Operation Safe Corridor is limited to individuals who have voluntarily disengaged from terrorist groups and passed strict screening and profiling procedures before being admitted into the programme.
Defence Headquarters also highlighted the role of strategic communication in modern warfare, noting that deradicalisation programmes serve as important tools for reducing recruitment pipelines and breaking cycles of violence. It warned that the selective framing used in the viral post ignored this critical dimension and instead promoted a simplistic and misleading narrative.
The military therefore urged the public to disregard sensational and out-of-context interpretations of official statements and rely only on verified sources for information regarding military operations.
It also called on citizens to support ongoing military efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security across the country.
Reaffirming its institutional values, the Armed Forces of Nigeria stated that it remains a professional organisation guided by law, doctrine and an unwavering commitment to national security. The statement added that the leadership of Olufemi Oluyede reflects decades of distinguished service, operational experience and strategic competence in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
