“Everybody is free to say whatever they want. There is freedom of information,” Kangye said. “But Nigeria is an independent nation that can think and act for itself.”
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed recent comments by Turkey alleging that members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) are operating in Nigeria under the guise of educational and healthcare institutions.
At a dinner in Abuja, Turkish Ambassador-designate Mehmet Poroy warned that FETO’s presence in Nigeria poses security risks. However, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, responded on Thursday, saying Nigeria is a sovereign nation capable of making independent security decisions.
“Everybody is free to say whatever they want. There is freedom of information,” Kangye said. “But Nigeria is an independent nation that can think and act for itself.”
He stressed that the Nigerian military will not act on unverified external claims that do not align with national intelligence.
Cautioning against foreign propaganda and psychological operations, Kangye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to counterterrorism based on internal priorities.
He added, “Nigeria values international allies, but national security will always reflect our sovereignty.”