The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has criticised a recent report by Amnesty International, describing it as misleading, lacking in context, and failing to recognise the significant progress made by the Nigerian Armed Forces in combating insecurity across the country.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye.

According to the statement, the military described the report as a concoction of falsehood.

They dismissed its statistics as sweeping generalisations and unverified.

“While we acknowledge the importance of civil society in promoting accountability and human rights, we must express strong reservations about the sweeping generalisations, lack of contextual depth, and the failure of the statement to recognise the monumental strides made by the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the current administration,” Kangye stated.

He argued that the report ignores the asymmetric nature of modern threats and the complex socio-political environment in which the military operates.

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the military has achieved notable successes, including the neutralisation of over 5,000 insurgents and bandits, recovery of more than 350 communities, and the rescue of 1,200 kidnapped civilians, according to Kangye.

“The sustained presence of troops in areas such as Maru (Zamfara), Bokkos (Plateau), and Logo (Benue) has enabled displaced persons to begin returning home under military protection,” he said.

He further highlighted that over 2,000 offensive operations were carried out in Zamfara State alone, leading to the rescue of 687 abductees and the neutralisation of 1,500 terrorists.

Reacting specifically to Amnesty’s figures, Kangye said the claim that 2,630 people were killed in Plateau State is false, noting that there were no mass displacements between 2023 and 2025.

He further refuted the figure of 6,896 deaths in Benue, stating that military records show only 693 fatalities during the same period.

“Our records show 693 deaths in Benue during the review period, not 6,896.
Furthermore, most of the alleged displacement figures are inconsistent with ground realities. Many IDP camps are now largely empty,” Kangye stressed.

He added that areas like Bafarawa and Gebe in Sokoto, which Amnesty claims are overrun by bandits, are within reach of military Forward Operating Bases, and regular joint operations have cleared bandit strongholds in the region.

The DHQ urged Amnesty International to engage with local realities and verify facts before publishing reports that could potentially mislead the public and undermine the morale of troops.

Recall that Amnesty in a recent report, accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect citizens from relentless attacks by armed groups and bandits.

The international organisation claimed that 10,217 people have been killed and 672 villages sacked in the last two years, with Benue State alone recording 6,896 deaths, followed by Plateau State with 2,630 deaths.