The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has firmly stated that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation capable of making independent decisions on national security and counterterrorism, in response to recent claims by the Turkish government about alleged terrorist activity within Nigeria.
The clarification comes after remarks by the Turkish Ambassador designate to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, who alleged that members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) a group designated as terrorist by Turkey are operating in Nigeria under the cover of educational and healthcare institutions.
Speaking during a dinner in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate Turkey’s Democracy and National Unity Day, Poroy said, “The presence of such an organisation poses a threat to every country in which it operates, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.”
He added that Turkey continues to provide intelligence briefings to Nigerian authorities and urged them to remain “vigilant and cautious.”
However, addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing on ongoing military operations, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, dismissed the remarks as unofficial and unverified.
“Information from the person you are talking about, as far as Defence Headquarters is concerned, is an unofficial announcement. Everybody is free to say whatever they want. There is freedom of information,” Kangye said.
He stressed that Nigeria will not be influenced by external claims that lack alignment with its own intelligence assessments and national interests.
“Nigeria is an independent sovereign nation that can think and act for itself,” he asserted.
While acknowledging the country’s diplomatic and military ties with other nations, Kangye cautioned against the uncritical acceptance of foreign narratives, especially those that could sow mistrust or compromise national integrity.
“We cannot take what other people are saying about Nigeria and accept it without our own independent assessment. Nigeria knows what it is, and the Nigerian military has its own code of conduct and operational guidelines,” he noted.
The senior military officer also drew attention to the global rise of propaganda and psychological warfare, suggesting that such narratives could be part of broader strategic agendas.
“There are propagandists all over the world. Psychological oppressions go on everywhere. That’s why we must be vigilant,” Kangye warned.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to combating terrorism on its own terms, guided by internal intelligence and national priorities.
“While we value our international allies, our security decisions will always reflect our status as a sovereign state,” Kangye concluded.
