By Chimezie Godfrey
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has assured Nigerians of imminent decisive action to rescue abducted citizens, even as it dismissed claims of terrorist presence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), insisting that security agencies are fully on alert to neutralise any criminal threats.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, gave the assurances during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, where he addressed a wide range of security concerns, including abduction threats, misinformation campaigns, and the controversial death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.
Speaking on a trending video in which bandits allegedly threatened to execute over 400 abducted Nigerians, Onoja disclosed that high-level engagements were ongoing, expressing confidence that the military would act swiftly.
“For the sake of operational security, there are details we cannot fully divulge. However, intense meetings are ongoing to resolve the issue, and I believe in the next 12 hours, we are going to see some really decisive steps to rescue those affected,” he said.
The statement underscores growing concerns over mass abductions and signals what may be an imminent escalation in rescue operations, as the military seeks to reassure a tense public.
On security within the FCT, the defence spokesman firmly rejected reports suggesting the presence of terrorists in parts of Abuja, describing such claims as unverified.
“There is no verifiable report of terrorist presence in the FCT. If we are talking about criminals, that is different, but all security agencies are on high alert. The FCT must remain secure, and all our formations have been tasked to ensure there is no threat whatsoever,” Onoja stated.
He further revealed that the Armed Forces has dedicated strategic units solely responsible for safeguarding the nation’s capital, stressing that no criminal element would be allowed to gain a foothold.
Addressing the broader dimension of modern warfare, Onoja warned that the military was confronting not just kinetic threats but also a sophisticated campaign of misinformation and psychological manipulation.
“In this fourth-generation warfare, misinformation and disinformation are part of the enemy’s strategy. They aim to alter public perception and erode trust in the military. But we are fully aware of this and have scaled up our Information Operations,” he explained.
According to him, the establishment of dedicated structures such as the Directorate of Defence Information reflects a deliberate effort to counter false narratives and maintain credibility.
“Engagements like this briefing are part of proactive efforts to counter misinformation. We are re-strategising, and going into May, Nigerians will see increased engagement and more robust communication from the Armed Forces,” he added.
The defence spokesman also emphasised the military’s renewed focus on civil-military relations as a critical component of its strategy.
“Beyond kinetic operations, we are strengthening civil-military cooperation. Our aim is to humanise our operations, build trust, and encourage communities to share intelligence that will help us act faster and more effectively,” he said.
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On concerns that communities sometimes experience delayed military response despite prior intelligence, Onoja acknowledged the challenge but attributed it largely to communication gaps.
“We have established channels for passing information. The issue is ensuring that such intelligence reaches the right authorities promptly. Verified information will always be acted upon,” he assured.
He cited instances where direct communication between communities and military authorities led to swift operational responses, urging citizens to utilise established channels and build trust with security agencies.
On international collaboration, Onoja described the United States as a key partner in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in intelligence sharing and capacity building.
“The United States does not have boots on the ground, but their support in training and intelligence has been significant. It has contributed to many of the gains recorded in recent weeks,” he said.
However, the most sensitive aspect of the briefing centred on the controversial death of an NYSC member during a military operation in Abuja, which has generated conflicting narratives between the military and the victim’s family.
Onoja acknowledged the discrepancies and assured Nigerians that a thorough investigation was underway.
“We have followed both the military report and the family’s account. There are gaps in the narratives, and we are engaging the family while conducting internal verification. Anyone found to have acted beyond their mandate will be held accountable,” he stated.
He stressed the Armed Forces’ commitment to transparency and adherence to international humanitarian law, promising that findings would be made public at the appropriate time.
Despite acknowledging losses in ongoing operations, Onoja maintained that the military was making significant progress in the overall war against insecurity.
“It is warfare. There will be losses, but we must look at the bigger picture. Are we making progress? We believe so,” he concluded.
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