Military Denies Secret Ceasefire Deal With Boko Haram Faction
Defence Headquarters rejected reports of a truce with Bakura Doro's Boko Haram faction, insisting combat operations continue across Nigeria.
Nigeria's Defence Headquarters has flatly rejected claims that the Federal Government reached a covert peace arrangement with a Boko Haram splinter group. The denial came in response to reports suggesting that officials had negotiated a ceasefire with the faction led by Bakura Doro, which allegedly resulted in three months of relative stability in parts of the North-East region.
Major-General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, made the statement during a joint security briefing in Abuja. He stressed that the military remains actively engaged in combat across the nation against terrorist organisations, extremist groups, and criminal syndicates.
The DHQ's public position is that no cessation of hostilities has been agreed upon with any armed group. According to military sources, operations against these organisations have yielded measurable results.
The Defence Headquarters reported neutralising 435 militants and rescuing 717 kidnapped individuals, describing these actions as evidence of sustained pressure on criminal elements. Officials indicated that such operations have forced fighters to abandon their positions and hideouts across affected regions.
The reports being disputed cited unnamed sources with alleged access to senior Boko Haram membership, claiming knowledge of the supposed agreement. The military's categorical rejection suggests significant daylight between what some sources claim occurred behind closed doors and the public military position on ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
