Captain Osabo said troops, in a completely unrelated and legitimate operation, had earlier intervened in Udei, where a Fulani individual was rescued from mob lynching and handed over to the police.

The two Fulani individuals referenced in the audio remained in police custody and were being processed through proper legal channels. 

“The viral audio is clearly the work of mischief-makers, ethnic provocateurs, and enemies of peace, intent on undermining public trust in security agencies and sowing discord within communities. 

“It is a fabricated narrative, devoid of fact, designed to falsely implicate military personnel and derail the coordinated security efforts of Operation Whirl Stroke and its partners,” he said.