The Defence Headquarters has emphasized that reports from the Nigerian military provide a more accurate account of the country’s counter-terrorism efforts than external sources. Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, made this statement on Thursday while responding to questions regarding the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, released on March 5.
The index ranked Nigeria sixth globally, with a score of 7.658, moving up from eighth place in 2023 and 2024. It also recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024.
Using an analogy, Kangye explained that, like a family head, the information provided by those directly involved in a situation is more credible than that from outsiders. “Something is happening in my house. I am the head of the house. I have children, I have a wife, and then Kuma Shi is reporting what is happening in my house to me. Which one would be more correct? The one I tell you as the head of the house or the one Kuma Shi is reporting from outside?” he said.
Kangye urged the media to verify and correct any misleading narratives about Nigeria’s security situation, asserting, “I’m not countering what they put out there, but as observers, you should be the ones to give the correct version of what is happening in Nigeria.”
On the sit-at-home order in the South East, Kangye acknowledged that fear still keeps many residents indoors on Mondays.
However, he reassured the public that the military is actively working to restore normalcy and eliminate IPOB/ESN fighters from the region.
