By Didimoko A Didimoko, Abuja
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has debunked reports on social media and rumours making the rounds that the French military is setting up military bases in Nigeria.
The rumour gained wind recently amidst a post by a human rights activist of northern extraction, Mahdi Shehu who lambasted the government on Saturday for its denial.
The rumour of French involvement in crisis-hotbed Northern Nigeria followed the collapse of the European nation’s relationship with its former colonies of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
It was further heightened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent state visit to France, where President Emmanuel Macron, rolled out the red carpet and fawned over the Nigerian president.
Meanwhile, Shehu claimed that some French military officers had arrived in Borno State as part of the process to set up the base. His claim was accompanied by a video that NDN could not independently verify.
He said, “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.’
“The same Boko Haram they claimed to have decimated and are scampering for safety.
“Before the blinking of an eye, a French military base will be physically seen in Maiduguri, perhaps before the new year, so that they will ‘FIGHT’ Boko Haram and begin to explore and prospect huge mineral resources and surely begin to exploit, harass, intimidate, kill, incapacitate, and annihilate the local people, which is typical of France’s presence in Africa.”
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, however, dismissed the claim as fake and mischievous.
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online reports alleging the arrival of the first contingent of French soldiers in Maiduguri towards establishing a French military base in North-East Nigeria.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby state unequivocally that this information is fake, totally false, and mischievous. It would be recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, recently addressed this matter in various media forums, where he debunked such news and speculations.
“Accordingly, the general public is urged to disregard these claims and speculations that are still circulating in some quarters. These are the antics of mischief makers.
“Nevertheless, the military will continue to carry out its constitutional responsibilities most professionally and ensure the territorial integrity of our nation.”
