The Nigerian Army has ruled out amnesty again for bandits terrorising the North-West zone of the country, asking State governors for a free hand to eliminate terrorists.
The army warned the criminals to flee the country with immediate effect, saying they would be given close marking and blocked from entering other parts of the country if they attempt to flee North-West.
Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who stated this at Army Headquarters, Abuja while playing host to the Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, called on the governors to give troops free hand to eliminate all the criminal elements.
“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’s disclosure came on the heels of the recent calls made by the former governor of the State, Sani Yarima, that bandits should be given amnesty.
He asked the President, Bola Tinubu to negotiate with terror gangs operating in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West region of the country.
