- We’re not bound by foreign assertions’
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed the claim by the Turkish Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, of the presence of a new terrorist group that migrated from Turkiye.
The military high command said Nigeria is an independent nation capable of making its own decisions, particularly on security and counterterrorism matters, and not bound by foreign claims.
Poroy had, during Turkiye’s Democracy and National Unity Day, alleged that members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation are operating in Nigeria under the guise of educational and healthcare institutions.
He added: “The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates… particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.”
Responding yesterday in Abuja through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, the military high command, said it does not recognise such claims as official or verified.
Kangye emphasised that Nigeria cannot be swayed by external commentary or claims that do not align with its own intelligence and national interest.
He said: “Information from the person you are talking about, as far as Defence Headquarters is concerned, is an unofficial announcement. Everybody is free to say whatever they want. There is freedom of information.
“Nigeria is an independent sovereign nation that can think and act for itself.”
Acknowledging Nigeria’s diplomatic and military relationships with several countries, Kangye cautioned against accepting unverified foreign narratives, especially those that may undermine national integrity or incite suspicion.
The DHQ spokesman emphasised that while Nigeria values its international allies, its security decisions would always reflect its status as a sovereign state.
“We cannot take what other people are saying about Nigeria and accept it without our independent assessment. Nigeria knows what it is, and the Nigerian military has its code of conduct and operational guidelines,” he said.
Kangye alerted fellow compatriots to the rise of global propaganda and psychological operations, suggesting that foreign assertions could be part of broader strategic manoeuvres.
“There are propagandists all over the world. Psychological oppressions go on everywhere. That’s why we must be vigilant,” he added.
The military spokesman reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fighting terrorism on its terms, guided by national priorities and internal intelligence.
