We’re not aware of peace deal moves between communities, terrorists – Military

The military high command said it is not aware of the moves made by some communities in Northern Nigeria to seek peace deals with bandits and terrorists for protection in their respective domains.  It clarified that no community had in the past approached the military for approval on such a move.  Daily Trust reports that […]

The military high command said it is not aware of the moves made by some communities in Northern Nigeria to seek peace deals with bandits and terrorists for protection in their respective domains. 

It clarified that no community had in the past approached the military for approval on such a move. 

Daily Trust reports that community leaders in Jibia, Batsari and Safana local government areas of Katsina State had recently reached a peace deal with bandit kingpins terrorising their villages. 

Locals had said the negotiation was witnessed by representatives of the military, DSS, police, community watch corps, vigilantes, traditional rulers and local government officials. 

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The same peace deal was sealed in some communities in Kaduna State where scores of bandits terrorising at least five local government areas agreed to drop their arms and discontinue their reign of terror in and around the state. 

But fielding questions from journalists shortly after the bi-weekly press briefing, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Markus Kangye, disclosed that the military high command wasn’t aware of the development. 

“To the best of our knowledge, we have never heard of any peace deal with bandits as mentioned. Why do communities want to do that? I don’t think they want to accept approval from the military to do so. 

“And the military, I don’t think we are aware of that. The military is conducting their operations according to the rules of the game. 

“So, if any community talks about calling for a mandate for peace, the military does not support that. They don’t support that,” Kangye, a major general, told newsmen. 

Commenting on Rivers State conundrum, the senior military officer said the military would not fold its hands and allow brazen attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure. 

Speaking on the invasion of electricity distribution companies, he said the military is a disciplined profession and would not tolerate such acts, adding that there are chains of command and the issues must have been dealt with appropriately. 

“The armed forces does not and never tolerate any uncoordinated report of soldiers. The military has awarded punishment for what they have done. 

“In some cases, they were even dismissed from the army, asked to leave the army, dismissed from the army based on the terms of the offence. So, I’m sure that it should have been dealt with at unit level,” he said.