The defence headquarters has accused the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima and senators representing the state of giving security officials intelligence reports on the Chibok school abduction that proved to be wrong.
Major General Chris Olukolade, the director of defence information, made this known during an interview on the African Independent Television programme “Focus Nigeria” whch aired on Tuesday, May 13, 2014.
Olukolade said Shettima gave wrong information on movement of 60 trucks in the ongoing case of the abducted schoolgirls.
“I think, what you were saying was in retrospect. Like I said, we want to avoid engaging him(governor) in public. There was a piece of information he gave sometime which was about the movement of 60 vehicles,” he said.
Olukolade added that: “Immediately that information came, aircraft went on air instantly. The whole of the environment he gave was searched, up till the points he said was the destination of those vehicles. They were searched thoroughly and nothing was found.
“And this is one issue about information in this operation, which seem to have been, most of the time, unhelpful because it tends to just want to wear us out and expend resources. By the time aircraft go on air, you can imagine the resources involved. We have a series of that experience.
Olukolade added that a lot of time and resources are wasted on prompt actions on information which turn out to be false.
“One problem with the situation right now is too many pieces of information that are of no value at the end of the day. But it is a resolve that no information would be despised, whosever is giving it whether it is the governor or the man on the street. Once the information comes, a lot of action goes into place instantly,” he said.
He added: “The same with the senators. In fact, most of the time the Senators speak, it gives us the impression they were in close contact. And many times perhaps, they also mislead.”
