The Nigerian Military has debunked a report by Punch which said that there was disquiet in the military over the way and manner the release of the 21 Chibok schoolgirls was carried out without the input of the army.
According to the report, the troops were also uneasy for the release of 5 Boko Haram commanders to the terrorists in an exchange that the federal government continues to deny.
Rabe Abubakar, in a statement e-mailed to The Trent on Saturday, October 15, 2016, the Defense Headquarters said that the country’s armed forces will continue to work closely with “all our sister security agencies to achieve more feat” in the direction of releasing the Chibok school girls and ultimately defeating Boko Haram.
General Abubakar, the director of Defence Headquarters, also clarified that negotiations for the release of the Chibok girls was the responsibility of politicians and not the military.
“The Defence Headquarters attention has been drawn to an online and newspaper publication insinuating that there is a mix feelings among Nigerian military ranks and files as a result of the recent release of some Chibok girls,” the statement said.
“The military wishes to state unequivocally that the Armed Forces will continue to work closely with all our sister security agencies to achieve more feat in this direction.
“The military also want to debunk the baseless and unfounded story that there is disquiet in the military over the condition of release of the girls.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies are one, working together to finish the war on terror and other criminalities which can be done covertly or overtly. The most important thing is achieving our strategic objective.
“The DHQ has said before that negotiation with the terrorists or any other group rests purely on our respected political leaders.
“The military operations to rid our land of terrorists continue.
“It is important to state that not all information are meant for public consumption due to processes which is purely political. More so, the ongoing military operation is making unprecedented progress with rescue of many captives held by the terrorists.
“The general public should discountenance with this baseless and misleading story.
“While the Armed Forces holds the media veritable partner, it urges the media to be mindful and clarify with the military when reporting security and defence issues bothering on sensitive national matters of this nature,” the statement ended.
