Chief of defence staff (CDS) Gen. Lucky Irabor on Thursday described as false the claim that terrorists are setting up camps around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Irabor’s reaction followed the claim raised by Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere.
The CDS said during the ministerial briefing organised by the presidential communications team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja that it was merely a mischievous claim.
Reacting to alleged military brutality in the south-east, Irabor said that the perception of discriminatory military engagement against the people of the region was not correct.
Responding to a question on why the military chose to scale operations up in the south-east while bandits in the north-west and north-central were considered for negotiations and repentant terrorists in the north-east are being rehabilitated, the defence chief noted that insecurity varies from region to region.
“What you find in the south-east is different from what is obtainable in the north,” he said.
Irabor also denied allegations that Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi works for the military due to his engagement with bandits in the north.
He explained that the military would not prevent anyone from playing his or her part in the fight against insecurity.
