KATSINA: Negotiating with criminals against our rules of engagement – DHQ

THE Nigerian military has restated its determination to get the over 300 abducted Kankara schoolboys rescued.

The military, however, dissociated itself from the ongoing reported negotiations between the Katsina State Government and the abductors of the students, adding that it is against its rules of engagement to enter into negotiations with perceived criminals.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, stated this while giving an update on the military operations across the country in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the military would continue its ongoing kinetic operations, noting that the armed forces were reviewing strategies to ensure the safe rescue of the children.

Enenche noted, “I don’t know from history where the military or the armed forces go into negotiations when it comes to ransom and I don’t have any record. Nothing is connecting the armed forces with negotiation. If the governor believes in that as a father, he is seeing it in a larger perceptive.”

Enenche said that the military had taken the necessary brief from other agencies and the Katsina State Government on the condition of the abducted students.

Based on the latest information, the DHQ spokesman said the hostages were still with the bandits unharmed.

He noted, “Nobody is dead; we have not received anything that anybody is dead from the information that we have on the situation and then, the troops are on guard as it were.”

Enenche dismissed the claim by Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau that his group abducted the students as untrue.

He added that Shekau made the claim to boost his ego so as to remain relevant in the scheme of things.