The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has officially denied claims that it supplied arms to a socio-cultural organisation to assist in the fight against banditry.
The denial was issued by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), which operates under ONSA, in response to online reports alleging that a member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association arrested in Kwara State was found with a rifle issued by the security office.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Head of Strategic Communications for the NCTC, Abu Michael, described the reports as false and misleading.
“The Federal Government and its agencies do not conduct kinetic operations with any socio-cultural groups, contrary to claims circulating in online reports,” the statement read.
The NCTC clarified that while Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy does involve the use of trained “hybrid forces” – including irregular auxiliaries such as hunters and vigilantes – these personnel are recruited directly by authorised security agencies following strict due diligence.
The statement referenced the previous use of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North East and similar deployments in the North West and North Central as examples of this legal, coordinated approach.
“Claims that the Office of the National Security Adviser has provided arms to any socio-cultural organisation are false and should be disregarded,” the statement emphasised.
The Centre urged the public to disregard unverified reports and cautioned media outlets to protect sensitive security information and seek clarification through official channels.
It reiterated the NCTC’s commitment to an open-door policy to improve public understanding of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
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