The Ayudantees Empowerment Initiatives (AYI), a civil society organization, has rejected the recent Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report ranking Nigeria as the 6th most terrorism-affected country in the world.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, AYI’s Executive Director, Mr. Amechi Oyema, criticized the report, arguing that it does not accurately reflect the security situation in the country.
Oyema questioned the methodology used in compiling the report and whether Nigerian authorities were adequately consulted. He also pointed out that the assessment failed to consider the ongoing military offensives that have put terrorists and bandits under immense pressure.
“Did they factor in the number of terrorists and bandits that have surrendered to our troops or those neutralized on the battlefield? Did they consider the relentless aggression of our security forces against these enemies of the state?” he asked.
The AYI director aligned with the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in rejecting the report, insisting that a more accurate and critical analysis of on-the-ground developments should have been conducted.
He further expressed concerns that such reports could create unnecessary panic among the public, emphasizing that the sacrifices made by Nigerian troops must not be undermined.
“Our soldiers are making great sacrifices, and we must support them. Reports like this should not demoralize them,” Oyema stated.
He urged the public and media to disregard the GTI report and instead rally behind the Armed Forces, particularly under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.
“We must ensure that narratives about Nigeria’s security situation are based on facts and not skewed data that fail to reflect the reality on the ground,” he added.
(NAN)