By Linus Aleke
The High Command of the Nigerian Military, on Thursday said that negotiation with terrorists is not part of its mandate.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), however, added that it is not opposed to any plan by government, if such plan really exist to negotiate with terrorists.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko said this while responding to questions from reporters at the bi-weekly media briefing on military operations across all theatres.

He said that the business of the military is to go after terrorists and other criminal elements and deny them freedom of actions and not negotiate with them.

According to him, “I have not seen the video you are talking about but what I can tell you is that we are not in the business of negotiating peace with bandits or terrorists. You rightly said that it is government, so it is not our business, our business is to go after terrorists and other criminal elements and deny them freedom of actions.

Before this, you asked about surrendered Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast. Well, the next time we meet I will give you a breakdown, those that had been profiled, and those that had been released to state government for rehabilitation. I will give you the complete break down because we have the records”.

When asked what the military is doing to prevent terrorists from Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger states from migrating to Kebbi state as is already been witnessed, Gen. Onyeuko said, “Wherever they are we will look for them, we are haunting them and a lot is been done to deny them freedom of action. Be rest assured that we are on their trail but I can not divulge operational plans to you”.

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He said that over hundred terrorists were deleted from the earth within the period, while 174 Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), terrorists and their families surrendered to state forces.