The Nigerian military has dismissed reports claiming that the Federal Government entered into a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram, insisting that military operations against terrorist groups remain ongoing.
The Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Samaila Uba, made the clarification on Thursday during a joint security briefing at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Uba described reports of a ceasefire with Boko Haram as false, stressing that troops were continuing operations against terrorists and other criminal groups across the country.
“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 stated.
He added that the military would sustain pressure on criminal elements, citing terrorists neutralised, suspects arrested and abductees rescued as evidence of its ongoing operations.
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The military’s denial follows a report by The New Humanitarian nearly two months ago, alleging that the Nigerian government had secretly reached a ceasefire agreement with a Boko Haram faction led by Bakura Doro.
According to the report, the alleged agreement, which reportedly began in June, was linked to efforts to secure the release of more than 300 civilians abducted in March from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The reported truce was also said to have contributed to relative calm in parts of the North-east for about three months.
However, the military has maintained that no ceasefire agreement exists and reiterated its commitment to tackling Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), kidnappers and other security threats across the country.
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