Tag: DHQ

Use ‘Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day’ for January 15 – DHQ urges media

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that January 15 should officially be referred to as Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, and not Armed Forces Remembrance Day, urged the media to adopt the correct nomenclature in all future reports. The clarification was contained in a press release signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, who explained that January 15 is set aside annually by the Federal Government to honour serving personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria while also commemorating officers and men who paid the…

BREAKING : Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar resigns on health grounds

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from office with immediate effect, citing health challenges that required urgent attention.   His resignation was communicated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a letter dated December 1, 2025. According to the letter, Badaru said he was stepping down to focus fully on his health and ongoing medical care.   The announcement was confirmed on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed…

DHQ clarifies Katsina border incident, announces stronger Nigeria–Niger security coordination

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the border incident involving Nigerian vigilante members and Nigerien troops in Mazanya village, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, assured the public that the situation has been resolved and new measures have been adopted to prevent future misunderstandings. In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the DHQ confirmed that the incident occurred on 29 November 2025 at about 3:00 p.m., when a convoy of Nigerien soldiers entered the community to fetch water…

DHQ disowns viral fake video on forced military recruitment

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed a viral video falsely portraying the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General OO Oluyede, as announcing plans to forcefully recruit Nigerians aged 18 and above into the military.   In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, described the footage as a “mischievously cloned” creation aimed at defaming the CDS and misrepresenting the Armed Forces of Nigeria.   He said the fake video attributed to the CDS was designed to mislead the public and cast the military in…

DHQ debunks coup rumour, says Independence parade cancellation misinterpreted

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports linking the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary to an alleged coup attempt, described such claims as false, malicious, and aimed at creating public tension. An online publication had insinuated that the Independence Day events were called off due to a purported plot within the military. The report also cited the recent arrest of sixteen officers currently under investigation by the military authorities. However, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja and signed by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of…

DHQ confirms explosion at DICON factory, One dead, Others injured

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that an ordnance explosion occurred at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) facility in Kaduna on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2025.   In a statement signed by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, DHQ said the incident resulted in the death of one person while several others sustained injuries.   According to preliminary findings, the explosion happened while specialists were completing the destruction of expired hazardous materials, including Ammonia Nitrates, Primer Caps, Propellants, and other ordnance substances.   The…

DHQ clarifies CDS remarks, says call was for Self-Protection skills, not bearing Arms

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked reports suggesting that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, called on Nigerians to bear arms, describing such claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of his comments.   In a statement issued on Friday, 22 August 2025, by the Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the DHQ explained that General Musa, during a Channels Television interview on Thursday, only encouraged citizens to acquire basic survival and self-protection skills.   “These include widely accepted life skills such as taekwondo, judo, swimming, boxing…

Over ₦250m Oil Theft foiled as Military crushes Terror Cells across Nigeria

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued their intensified operations against terrorists, bandits, and oil thieves across various regions, recording significant breakthroughs during the week ending 20 June 2025. Disclosing this in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said troops sustained pressure on criminal elements through kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the North East, North West, North Central, South South, and South East, resulting in the recovery of large quantities of weapons, dismantling of criminal networks, rescue of kidnapped victims, and the surrender of terrorists. In…

Over ₦262 Million worth of Stolen Crude Oil recovered, Terrorists neutralized across Multiple Theatres within a week – DHQ

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to national security and the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, recording significant operational successes across various theatres from April 10 to 17, 2025.   This was disclosed in a release signed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye,the troops operating in synergy with other security agencies and hybrid forces neutralized scores of terrorists, arrested criminal elements, rescued kidnapped victims, and recovered large quantities of arms, ammunition, and stolen crude oil during the week under…

DHQ refutes misleading claims on General Tsiga’s release, praises military’s heroic rescue efforts

Emporium Reporters

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has strongly refuted a misleading article by Brigadier General Ismaila Abdullahi, which falsely claimed that military generals contributed money to secure the release of Brigadier General Mahrazu Tsiga (retired), the former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who was held captive for 56 days. In a statement released today, the DHQ clarified that the successful rescue of General Tsiga was the result of coordinated military operations led by troops from Operation Fasan Yamma, not financial contributions.   The statement highlighted the extensive efforts…