Insurgency: Group  expresses concern over  misrepresentation of CDS’ comments,  cautions media 

A non-partisan advocacy group, the Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development (CPDD), has expressed disappointment over misrepresentation of comments made by social the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, regarding killings of terrorists in some sections of online and social media. 

According to the group, the reports which has gained traction online, distorted the context of the CDS’s remarks and created a misleading narrative that does not reflect the realities of ongoing military engagements across insurgency-affected areas.

In a statement on Friday, CPDD Convener Akin Daniels warned that such inaccuracies could undermine ongoing military operations.

CPDD noted that at a time when troops are recording measurable successes against insurgent groups, the spread of misinformation could weaken public confidence and inadvertently embolden criminal elements seeking to exploit gaps in public perception.

The group stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain bound by established rules of engagement and international best practices, adding that comments attributed to the CDS in the viral post were taken out of context and risk misinforming the public.

It therefore called on journalists, bloggers and social media influencers to exercise restraint and professionalism by verifying facts before dissemination, especially on sensitive national security matters that could influence troop morale and public cooperation.

The organisation further warned that sensational reporting could serve the propaganda objectives of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, which are known to exploit misinformation as part of their psychological warfare strategies.

CPDD emphasised that while the media has a constitutional role in holding authorities accountable, it must also act in ways that do not jeopardise national security efforts, urging all stakeholders to prioritise accuracy, responsibility and national interest as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgency.