DHQ Dismisses reports of Northern communities paying terrorists for protection

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said it was not aware of communities in the North that seek peace deals with terrorists/bandits for protection.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.—Gen. Markus Kangye, announced this while addressing reporters at the DHQ yesterday in Abuja.

Various reports had said some Northwest communities were allegedly brokering peace agreements with terrorists and bandits to avert further violent attacks.

But Kangye said: “To the best of our knowledge, we have never had any peace deal with bandits, as mentioned. Why do some communities want to do that? I don’t think they wanted to accept approval from the military to do so. And the military, I don’t think, is aware of that.

“The military is conducting its operations according to the rules of engagement. So, if any community calls for a mandate for peace with terrorists, the military does not support that. We don’t support that.”

Also the DHQ yesterday said it handed over 75 rehabilitated terrorists to the Borno State government in past two week. The DHQ said troops on operations across the country killed scores of terrorists within the week.

Those rehabilitated and handed over comprised seven adult males, 34 adult females, and 34 children.
Kangye said: “Between March 10 and 19, 2025, scores of terrorists, comprising adult males, adult females and some children, surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation following the ongoing onslaught by our gallant troops.

The spokesman said troops apprehended two suspected terrorists who had been on military watch list and one gunrunner, Shehu Bagiwaye.
He said they were apprehended in Gudu and Gusau local government areas of Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Kangye said between March 10 and 20, troops arrested 23 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen petroleum products worth over N461 million.

The breakdown includes 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined AGO.

“Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums and 21 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include pumping machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and some vehicles amongst others,” he said.

According to him, on March 10 and 13, troops ambushed some terrorists in Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State and Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and engaged terrorists in a gun dwell.

“During the encounters, some of the terrorists were neutralised, while some arms and ammunition as well as mobile phones were recovered from them,” he said.