The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Lagbaja, has ruled out amnesty for terrorists in Nigeria, SAVANNAH NEWS REPORTS.
He said any form of amnesty for terrorists causing problem in any part of the country, would only encourage them to cause more issue.
The army chief warned the criminals to immediately leave the country.
Major Lagbaja stated that Army would be given close marking and blocked any criminal gang from entering other parts of the country if they attempted to flee.
Addressing Plateau state Governor: “Your Excellency, I think we need to look at this amnesty programme. The criminal elements have proven to be incorrigible. So, the issue of amnesty has created an avenue for them to regroup and re-organise and launch attacks,” Lagbaja said.
The army chief said this to counter comment credited to a former governor of the state, Sani Yerima that bandits should be given amnesty, during his visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Yerima had earlier advised President Tinubu to engage with terrorists operating in Zamfara state and other parts of the country.
The former governor said the negotiation he was advocating was similar to what the administration of former President Umar Yar’Adua did with militants in the Niger Delta, which gave birth to the amnesty programme.
