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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Nigeria’s military says it will not negotiate with terrorists or support ransom payments

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters reaffirmed that the armed forces will not negotiate with terrorists, bandits or other criminal groups and will not support ransom payments.
  • Military spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba said kinetic operations remain the military’s main responsibility, while the armed forces will support broader whole-of-society security efforts.
  • Uba said the planned withdrawal of about 200 US personnel does not signal a breakdown in the Nigeria-US security partnership.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has drawn a firm line against negotiations with terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups, saying the military does not support ransom payments to criminal non-state actors.

Speaking at a joint security briefing in Abuja, military spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba said the armed forces’ main responsibility was kinetic operations. “The Nigerian Armed Forces do not negotiate with terrorists. We also do not support the payment of any ransom,” he said.

The Nigerian Armed Forces do not negotiate with terrorists. We also do not support the payment of any ransom.

— Major General Samaila UbaNigeria’s military spokesperson restated the armed forces’ policy at a joint security briefing in Abuja.

Uba added: “As much as possible, we want to take down all the terrorists in Nigeria, or anybody who takes up arms against citizens in Nigeria.” He said the military also takes part in non-kinetic actions when it supports other stakeholders, but without compromising its opposition to dialogue with terrorists or ransom payments.

As much as possible, we want to take down all the terrorists in Nigeria, or anybody who takes up arms against citizens in Nigeria.

— Major General Samaila UbaUba described kinetic operations as the military’s main responsibility.

He described a whole-of-society, whole-of-nation approach as an important part of the Chief of Defence Staff’s command philosophy. State-led initiatives, including the Kaduna State model in Birnin Gwari, fall within that broader effort. Uba said the police remain the lead agency in internal security operations, with the military providing support.

Addressing reports that about 200 US military personnel would leave Nigeria, Uba said the move should not be interpreted as the end of security cooperation. “The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial,” he said. The US deployment, he added, was tied to specific operational and counterterrorism objectives, while cooperation would continue in efforts covering Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial.

— Major General Samaila UbaHe rejected the idea that the planned withdrawal of about 200 US personnel represented a breakdown in security cooperation.
About this summary

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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