Defence Hqtrs Extends Amnesty for Repentant Terrorists, Militants to South-East, South-South, South-West Militants

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has expanded its surrender policy for non-state actors to criminal gangs operating in the South-East, South-South and South-West Geopolitical Zones.

This is according to a report by the Punch Newspaper on its online platform. Before now, the amnesty programme, which provides the opportunity for repentant terrorists and bandits was limited largely to the North-East, North-West and North-Central states.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General MICHAEL ONOJA, announced the new policy direction to newsmen in Abuja.

He was responding to questions on the recent surrender of some militants to troops of Operation Udo Ka in the South-East.

Major General MICHAEL ONOJA said the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will receive the surrendered militants in line with international law and the Geneva Convention.

The Defence spokesman said the Nigerian Armed Forces continue to act in line with its rules of engagement, international humanitarian laws and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said there was no deadline for non-state actors wishing to lay down their arms, while emphasizing that the military's kinetic operation was also being intensified.