The Nigerian Army has asked all terrorists and bandits, particularly those in the Northwestern region, to surrender unconditionally, emphasising that there will be no negotiating with those who threaten the country’s peace.
According to the army, the terrorists have been given a difficult time and their only alternative is to lay down their rifles and surrender to the troops.
Major General Godwin Mutkut, General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Nigerian Army Sokoto, told reporters in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, after inaugurating RSM House at the 1 Brigade Cantonment.
“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 again,” General Mutkut asserted.
The Commander noted that the army won’t relent in its continuous efforts to clear terrorists from the region.
He reiterated that the military will not negotiate with the bandits but will rather go after them in their hideouts to eliminate, he advised that if the bandits want to survive from the hand of the troops, they should come out from their hideouts to surrender.
According to him, 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.”
General Mutkut added that 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 will protect their communities when there is a distress call before the arrival of the troops in the troubled area.