Nigerian army denies ceasefire with Boko Haram
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
Nigeria’s military headquarters denies any ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province or other armed groups. General Samaila Uba says military operations are continuing and that arrests, hostage rescues and neutralised fighters prove there is no truce, according to Vanguard.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has denied the existence of a ceasefire between the federal government, the Nigerian military and Boko Haram, ISWAP or any other terrorist group. “There is nothing resembling a ceasefire,” Major General Samaila Uba, the director of defence information, said, quoted by Vanguard.
The denial responds to a report claiming that a secret agreement with the Boko Haram faction led by Bakura Doro had been in force since June and had contributed to a lull of about three months in some areas of the north-east. The report, which mentioned a possible extension, was based on three people who said they had contacts with senior Boko Haram members. Samaila Uba said offensives against terrorists, armed bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups were continuing, with fighters neutralised, suspects arrested and victims rescued.
The military spokesman added that the movement of terrorists and bandits to regions where they had previously been less active showed the effect of the operations, without the armed forces easing the pressure. The statement follows operations announced against Boko Haram and ISWAP on 30 October and 31 October.
