The Defence Headquarters has emphasized that the Nigerian military is not responsible for granting amnesty to terrorists or bandits who surrender, stating that such decisions are within the jurisdiction of other arms of government.
This clarification was made by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, amid reports that some bandit leaders in Katsina State had laid down their arms and released captives in exchange for amnesty.
“Amnesty is not within the mandate of the military,” Kangye stated. “Our duty is to carry out operations in line with our rules of engagement. If individuals are apprehended during these operations and a decision is made to grant them amnesty, it is handled by the relevant government agencies, not us.”
Kangye also shed light on the progress made in recent months, noting that both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches have yielded results.
He disclosed that in June alone, troops neutralized several high-profile terrorist leaders, apprehended 1,191 suspects, and rescued 543 kidnap victims. Additionally, 682 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.
Among those eliminated were notorious figures such as Amir Abu Fatimah, Kinging Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Mallam Jidda, Maiwada, Mai Dada, and Nwachi Eze (alias Onowu). Kangye further revealed that bandit kingpin Yellow Danbokkolo died from injuries sustained during a clash with troops, along with several of his lieutenants.
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“In just one month, our troops have decimated terrorist kingpins and their foot soldiers. These successes reflect our unwavering commitment to restoring peace,” he said.
Also present at the briefing, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, responded to concerns about the continued detention of leaders from Okuama community in Delta State, despite reports of a court order demanding their release.
“The Defence Headquarters has not received any court injunction on the matter. If and when we receive one, our legal team will advise us on the appropriate course of action,” Gusau stated.
On reports that family and legal representatives were denied access to the detainees, Gusau said, “No formal request has been made to the Defence Headquarters. If the right procedures are followed, we will address it accordingly.”
The arrest of the community leaders is linked to the deadly ambush in Okuama on March 14, which resulted in the deaths of four officers and 13 soldiers during a peacekeeping mission—a tragedy that shocked the nation.
Highlighting more operational achievements, Kangye said troops arrested several suspected gunrunners and kidnappers, including Buhari Umar, Hassan Mohammed, Saleh Sani, and Shittu Muazu Bakassi.
In the Niger Delta region, the military, under Operation DELTA SAFE, thwarted crude oil thefts valued at over ₦3.5 billion. Recovered items included over 2.3 million litres of stolen crude oil, more than 600,000 litres of illegally refined diesel (AGO), and thousands of litres of kerosene and petrol.
“Troops dismantled 174 illegal refining sites and confiscated 45 vehicles used in the illegal trade,” Kangye added.
The military reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and pledged continued collaboration with relevant government institutions to ensure peace and security across the country.
