The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied claims that France is planning to set up a military base in Nigeria. This follows allegations made by human rights activist Mahdi Shehu, who posted a video on Saturday suggesting that French military officers had arrived in Borno State to establish a base. Shehu’s post claimed that the Chief of Army Staff had received the first contingent of French soldiers and deployed them to Maiduguri to assist in fighting Boko Haram, suggesting that this could lead to a French military base in the region.
In response, Major-General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, dismissed the claims as false and misleading. He clarified that the information was fake and mischievous, urging the public to disregard such reports. Buba further reminded the public that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had already addressed these claims in various media outlets. He assured that the Nigerian military would continue to perform its duties professionally and protect the country’s territorial integrity.
