The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the military is not responsible for granting amnesty to surrendered terrorists or bandits.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen Markus Kangye, clarified on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja, following recent reports of bandit commanders in Katsina State surrendering and releasing hostages in exchange for amnesty.

While acknowledging that the development reflects the gains of both kinetic and non-kinetic military operations, Kangye stressed that decisions regarding amnesty fall outside the military’s responsibilities.

“Amnesty is not what we do,” he said. “We are to do our job according to our rules of engagement and operational directives. If, from operations conducted, people are arrested and an amnesty is to be considered, it is not the military that determines that. Their cases will be studied by appropriate government agencies empowered to make such decisions.”

Addressing questions on the continued detention of community leaders from Okuama, Delta State, despite a reported court order for their release, Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen Tukur Gusau, stated that the military had not received any formal court order.

On March 14, four officers and 13 soldiers were killed in an ambush during a peace mission to Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area. The attack drew widespread condemnation, leading to a military operation in the area and subsequent arrests of suspected perpetrators.

“The DHQ has not received any court injunction in respect of that,” Gusau said.

“If we get it, we have our legal team, which will advise us on the next step to take. But for now, we don’t have such a court injunction being served to us.”

When asked further why the military wouldn’t allow community members to visit the detained leaders, the defence spokesman replied that no such request had been made to the military.

“There was no request forwarded to the Defence Headquarters on that,” Gusau said.

“Maybe, perhaps, the request is only on the pages of newspapers.

“There is a procedure for everything. If they follow the procedure, we will respond appropriately, “he added.