The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has sidestepped direct commentary on recent foreign military strikes in the Sahel, urging reliance on official statements from the presidency.
This stance emerged during a press briefing covered by Arise TV, where the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, addressed growing public inquiry.
When pressed for the military's assessment of the operations, Onoja stated, “For now, let us rely on the statement that was made by the presidency and the ministry of foreign affairs. Let it suffice.
He, however, confirmed the presence of terrorist elements in the region, citing intelligence. “Terrorists are ubiquitous and we cannot confine them to one location.
Of course, there's evidence to show they are in the Sahel, intelligence reports have confirmed their presence there before those strikes were conducted.”
The General justified the lack of publicity around certain operations, noting they are “sometimes for personal security reasons.
He shifted focus to the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s extensive domestic efforts, detailing a week of nationwide operations.
Shifting focus to domestic operations, General Onoja detailed significant gains by Nigerian troops across multiple fronts, from forests and border corridors to creeks and highways.
He added: "Troops also arrested 4,375 suspects and 1,616 surrendered terrorists and their families while 2,326 hostages were rescued."
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