DHQ denies ceasefire deal with Boko Haram, ISWAP

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said it did not enter into negotiations with the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups for a ceasefire on their deadly activities, as has been speculated.

The DHQ said that recent adjustments to the Armed Forces’ order of battle, including the establishment of new formations, battalions and units, were aimed at closing security gaps and strengthening military presence in vulnerable areas.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, who made this known at the Joint Security Press Briefing by the spokespersons of the security, defence and law enforcement agencies, said the military had intensified ongoing operations and was sustaining pressure on the terrorists and other criminal groups disturbing the peace in the country.

He said these operations had resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorists in the last few months, with others arrested and a number of kidnapped victims rescued.

The denial comes amid a report by The New Humanitarian that the Federal Government had entered into a secret ceasefire agreement with the Boko Haram faction led by Bakura Doro, which reportedly contributed to relative calm in parts of the North-East for about three months running.

The report, citing three people with contacts among senior Boko Haram members, said the truce had been in effect since June and was expected to be extended after its expiration.

Addressing the alleged ceasefire, the Defence spokesman said: “On the issue of whether there is a ceasefire with Boko Haram, I want to make it clear that there is nothing like a ceasefire.”

He said: “Considering the terrorists neutralised, suspects arrested, victims rescued and other successes recorded across our operations, it is clear that we are not relenting.

“We will continue to sustain pressure on these criminal elements.”

Uba noted that military operations were not restricted to Boko Haram and ISWAP but also targeted kidnappers and other armed criminal groups threatening the lives and security of Nigerians. He said individuals involved in criminal activities would either be neutralised through lawful military operations or brought to justice.

He said: “Our operations are not limited to Boko Haram or ISWAP. They also target kidnappers and other criminal elements who take up arms against innocent citizens.

“Anyone involved in criminal activities that threaten the lives and security of Nigerians will either be eliminated through lawful military operations or brought to justice.”

Responding to a question on the movement of insurgents into other states of the country where they were previously less active, Uba described the development as evidence of the impact of ongoing military operations, but said the Armed Forces were not taking the situation lightly as they were on the trail of the criminals.

So far, he said, the military was identifying locations where the insurgents might have relocated, to prevent them from establishing new operational bases and carrying out attacks.

According to him, “The fact that some of them are leaving their former locations is a testimony to the successes of our operations. However, I assure you that we are not taking the situation lightly.”

Uba, who cited the recent neutralisation of a high-level terrorist in a forest area as evidence that insurgents would not find safe havens anywhere in the country, said: “What we are doing is mapping out all the locations where we believe they may have relocated and taking proactive measures to prevent them from establishing footholds in those areas.”

He assured that the military would sustain its operations to prevent terrorists from expanding their activities to other parts of the country.

Giving a breakdown of some of the operational successes recorded so far, Uba said troops executed 588 distinct security operations in September and October, killing 435 terrorists and bandits, including high-profile commanders such as Ali Mandara, Abba Gajiri, Habu Ikkima, Nakif Yana Faruk, Commander Gogore and Abdussamad Ohida.

He further stated that troops arrested 809 suspects, secured the voluntary surrender of 198 insurgents and successfully liberated 717 kidnapped victims and captives.

He listed the rescued victims to include 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Owerri, Imo State, and 11 individuals in Danko-Wasagu, Kebbi State.

He also said troops recovered 5,666 arms, ammunition, explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), alongside vital logistical assets, to dismantle the terrorists’ war-making capacity.

He said troops recorded major tactical breakthroughs in Buniyadi, Baga, Kukawa, Bittai and the Owo forest, which severely fractured enemy networks.