The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports that the French military arrived in Nigeria to set up a base in Borno State as a measure against Boko Haram attacks in the area.
On Saturday, some reports claimed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Femi Oluyede, welcomed the first group of French troops in Maiduguri, Borno State, to support the fight against Boko Haram extremists.
However, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, dismissed the report.
Quoting Buba, “The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online reports alleging the arrival of the first contingent of French soldiers in Maiduguri towards establishing a French Military base in North East Nigeria.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby state unequivocally that this information is fake, totally false and mischievous. It would be recalled that Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa CFR, recently addressed this matter in different media forums. In which he debunked the news and such speculations.”
“It is clear that these are the antics of mischief makers.”