The Nigerian Army has urged all terrorists and bandits, particularly those operating in the Northwestern region, to surrender unconditionally.
Major General Godwin Mutkut, General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Nigerian Army Sokoto, told journalists after inaugurating RSM House at the 1 Brigade Cantonment in Zamfara State.
Mutkut said the terrorists have continued to be given a tough time, and their only option is to drop their arms and surrender to the troops.
“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,” Mutkut said.
He said that the army will not relent in its continuous efforts to clear terrorists from the region.
The military, according to Commander Mutkut, will not negotiate with the bandits and will instead go after them in their hideouts to eliminate them.
Mutkut stated that despite the rainy season, troops have been going to troubled areas like Zurmi, Shinkafi, Tsafe, Dansadau, and other troubled areas in Zamfara State, dislodging terrorists from their hideouts.
“Before now, there are plenty of 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 a bloody nose, If they want to survive, they should just surrender,” he said.
General Mutkut also stated that the bandits are now hitting soft targets, especially innocent citizens in the villages or Highways.
He, however, urged the 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.
