The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has firmly denied reports claiming that the French military is planning to establish a base in Nigeria, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The controversy began after a human rights activist, Mahdi Shehu, alleged on social media that French military officers had already arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, to prepare for the establishment of a base. Shehu suggested that the move was part of a larger agenda, accusing France of exploiting Africa’s resources under the guise of providing military support.
In his post, accompanied by a video, Shehu stated:
“Last week, the Chief of Defence Staff denied any plan to establish French military bases in Nigeria. Yesterday, the Chief of Army Staff received the first contingent of French soldiers and immediately deployed them to Maiduguri to ‘help Nigeria in fighting Boko Haram.’”
He went on to speculate that the alleged French military presence in Maiduguri would soon result in exploitation and intimidation of local communities.
In response, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, released a statement on Monday debunking the allegations.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby state unequivocally that this information is fake, totally false, and mischievous,” the statement read.
Buba emphasized that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had previously addressed similar rumors in various media engagements, categorically dismissing them.
He urged the public to disregard such claims, attributing them to “the antics of mischief makers.”
“The military remains committed to its constitutional responsibilities and will continue to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity,” Buba concluded.
The DHQ has reassured Nigerians that there are no plans to allow any foreign military base within the country, urging citizens to verify information before spreading unverified reports.
