The Headquarters Theatre Command Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has rejected claims circulating on social media that a French military base has been established in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The rumours, initially shared by social media activist Mahdi Shehu on his X (Twitter) account, suggested that a French military presence had been set up in the region. Shehu's post included a video showing the Acting General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna, alongside a foreign military officer, which he claimed was proof of the base’s existence.
In a statement released on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, the military firmly denied these allegations, stating that there is no French military base in Maiduguri, nor are there any plans to establish one in the North East.
The video referenced by Shehu, according to the statement, actually depicted Brigadier General Haruna meeting with members of the press. The foreign officer in the video is a member of the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), not a French military representative. The event shown was related to the donation of equipment to OPHK by BMATT on October 25, 2024, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
The statement further emphasized the Nigerian military’s ongoing partnership with BMATT, which has been providing training and equipment to combat the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the region.
The Army condemned Shehu’s claims as unfounded, accusing him of deliberately spreading false information and manipulating public opinion for attention. The public was urged to disregard the misleading claims and focus on verified facts.
Armies are responsible for defending and serving their nation by land, sea, and air. They are made up of well-trained personnel who are ready to respond to threats and emergencies.
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