The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has called on Nigerians to push back against the increasing spread of misinformation aimed at national security leaders, warning that such falsehoods can undermine the morale of serving officers and embolden groups seeking to destabilise the country.

Agbese made the appeal while reacting to allegations linking former Chief of Army Staff and former Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), to terrorism financing.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, he dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated, insisting they were crafted to tarnish Buratai’s reputation despite his significant contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s security framework.

According to him, “General Buratai led the fight against Boko Haram from the front. Anyone familiar with Nigeria’s security situation from 2015 knows that before the Buhari administration took over, Boko Haram had bombed the Police Headquarters, the United Nations building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya Motor Park, and numerous mosques, churches and markets. Entire communities across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were completely under insurgent control.”

He added that under Buratai’s leadership, Boko Haram lost many of the territories they once occupied, enabling the restoration of basic governance in long-abandoned towns. “Abuja, which had previously witnessed repeated deadly bombings, became safe again. The level of destruction experienced between 2009 and 2014 reduced significantly due to his strategic command,” Agbese noted.

The lawmaker stressed that portraying a figure with such a record as a terrorism sponsor not only contradicts reality but also amounts to a “grave injustice” Nigerians must not accept.

“This is someone whose career reflects integrity, patriotism and sacrifice. Accusing him of supporting the very terrorists he spent decades confronting is completely illogical,” he said.

Agbese urged Nigerians to uphold the truth, saying any attempt to distort the sacrifices of military personnel must be firmly rejected for the sake of national unity and collective security.