The Nigerian Army has stated that its forces will not negotiate with terrorists and other criminal elements terrorising communities in the Northern region, adding that the military will rather go into their hideouts to eliminate them.
The General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Sokoto, Maj.-Gen Godwin Mutkut made this known while addressing journalists in Gusau, Zamfara State capital at the 1 Brigade Cantonment.
He advised all terrorists and bandits especially those in the Northwestern region to surrender unconditionally, stressing that there would be no negotiating with those who threaten the nation’s peace.
According to the Army General, the terrorists have continued to be given a tough time and their only option is to drop their arms and surrender to the troops.
Mutkut said; “Nobody negotiated with them before they entered the bush, now that the fire is hitting them, they want to negotiate, well I won’t call it negotiation, they should just come out and surrender, negotiation is a trap, they have done it in the past and it did not yield any result, so why still repeating the same mistakes?
“The military will not negotiate with the bandits but will rather go after them in their hideouts to eliminate. The troops have been going to troubled places like Zurmi, Shinkafi, Tsafe, Dansadau and other troubled areas in Zamfara State in spite of the rainy season, dislodging the terrorists from their hideouts.
“Before now there are plenty places that we have not entered but as it is now, despite the rain we are going places where the bandits are not expecting, giving them bloody nose, if they want to survive, they should just surrender. The bandits are now hitting on soft targets especially on the sight of innocent citizens in the villages or highways.”
He advised District Heads and communities in Zamfara State to form groups that would protect their communities any time there was a distress call before the arrival of the troops.