Nigeria rules out ceasefire with Islamists, vows sustained military offensive
Nigeria’s military has ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire with Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), insisting that it will continue its operations against insurgents and other armed groups.
Attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP on military installations in northeastern Nigeria have increased in recent weeks, despite years of security operations aimed at containing the 17-year-long insurgency in the region.
Speaking at an intelligence briefing in Abuja on Thursday, military spokesperson Major-General Samaila Uba said recent successes, including the killing of insurgents, arrests of suspects and the rescue of hostages, demonstrated that security forces were maintaining pressure on the armed groups.
“I want to make it clear that there is nothing like a ceasefire … considering the successes recorded across our operations, it is clear that we are not relenting,” he said.
Major-General Uba also disclosed that Nigeria was engaging neighbouring Sahel countries that have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on matters of security and diplomatic cooperation.
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