DHQ Warns: No Peace Deals with Bandits & Terrorists!

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) doesn’t have any of it, though. They’ve made it crystal clear: the military does NOT support such arrangements!

Reports are flying in that some villages, frustrated with the security situation, have decided to negotiate directly with bandit kingpins. Communities in places like Jibia, Batsari, and Safana (all in Katsina State) apparently reached out to these armed groups, hoping to buy some peace. But here’s the kicker—the military had no idea about these deals and definitely doesn’t approve of them.

During a press briefing, Major General Markus Kangye, the Director of Defence Media Operations, didn’t mince words. He firmly stated that the military isn’t in on these so-called peace deals.

“To the best of our knowledge, we’ve never had any agreement with bandits. Why are communities doing this? They don’t need military approval, but the truth is, we don’t support it,” Kangye said.

He made it clear that the military is staying laser-focused on its mission—protecting lives, securing infrastructure, and keeping the bad guys in check.

Now, let’s talk about what the troops have been up to lately. They’re not just standing by while criminals run wild. In recent operations, they’ve taken down a good number of terrorists and arrested several others, including 23 individuals caught red-handed in oil theft.

And get this, the military foiled an oil theft operation worth N461,783,868! That’s a huge dent in the pockets of illegal operators. They seized massive amounts of stolen crude oil, destroyed illegal refining sites, and took out equipment used for the shady business. Here’s a quick rundown:

• 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil
• 198,374 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)
• 36 crude oil cooking ovens dismantled
• 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums, and 21 illegal refining sites shut down

Oh, and they also recovered a serious stash of weapons, including AK-47s, pump-action shotguns, RPG tubes, and loads of ammunition. Talk about sending a message to the criminals!

In another major move, troops recently handed over 75 rehabilitated individuals to the Borno State Government. These included seven adult males, 34 adult females, and 34 children who had surrendered following military operations. Between March 10 and 19, even more people, men, women, and kids, decided to lay down their arms and turn themselves in. It looks like the military pressure is working!

There have been whispers about soldiers allegedly invading electricity distribution companies. However, according to DHQ, the military takes discipline very seriously. Any unprofessional conduct isn’t swept under the rug—it’s dealt with. Soldiers have faced consequences, and in some cases, they were even dismissed for their actions.

“The military doesn’t tolerate misbehavior. If a soldier crosses the line, they get punished sometimes even removed from service, depending on the severity of the offense,” Kangye explained.

Making peace deals with terrorists is a dangerous game. The military is working around the clock to take down these threats and keep communities safe. Instead of negotiating with criminals, folks need to trust in the security forces and report suspicious activities.