The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has responded to Amnesty International’s recent report on insecurity in Nigeria, calling it misleading and unfair. In a detailed statement released on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said the report failed to provide context and overlooked the Nigerian military’s efforts and gains in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
The Amnesty International report, released on Wednesday, claimed that over 10,000 people have died in violent attacks over the past two years and that hundreds of communities were destroyed or abandoned. It noted that Benue and Plateau states recorded the highest numbers of deaths, with 6,896 and 2,630 respectively.
Major General Kangye criticised these figures, saying they were based on unverified sources and did not reflect the reality on ground. He also noted that while civil society groups have a role in holding governments accountable, the report lacked a proper understanding of the complex security challenges Nigeria faces.
“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,” he said.
According to the DHQ, the military has achieved significant success since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023. These include the neutralisation of over 5,000 insurgents and bandits, the recovery of more than 350 previously occupied communities, and the rescue of over 1,200 kidnapped civilians.
Kangye added that military operations have helped displaced persons return to their communities in states like Zamfara, Plateau, and Benue, where troops are still present to ensure safety. He stressed that joint operations, backed by local intelligence, have led to the dismantling of several kidnapping rings and the seizure of illegal weapons.
Regarding Plateau State, Kangye dismissed Amnesty’s report of over 2,600 deaths and 167 displaced communities. He said, “The state witnessed improvements in security following a reorganisation of deployments and intensified operations since July 2023. There were no mass displacements between 2023 and 2025, contrary to Amnesty’s assertion.”
In Zamfara, he explained, the military has carried out over 2,000 offensive operations in two years, rescuing nearly 700 kidnapped persons and neutralising more than 1,500 terrorists. “Contrary to claims, areas such as Bafarawa and Gebe in Sokoto are within reach of military Forward Operating Bases, and joint operations have cleared bandit strongholds,” the statement added.
Kangye also refuted Amnesty’s claim that nearly 7,000 people were killed in Benue, saying the number recorded by the military was 693 during the same period. He said many internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned to their homes, and most camps were now mostly empty.
