‘We’ll Treat Terrorists, Bandits In The Language They Understand’ – Army Chief

The Nigerian Army has vowed to treat Boko Haram insurgents, bandit terrorists and kidnappers “in the language they understand”.

Speaking on Wednesday at an event in Abuja, Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya, said the military has started dealing with the criminals in Zamfara State and in the North West region.

Yahaya stated that the military will continue to deal ruthlessly with insurgents and bandits until the war against insurgency and banditry is won.

The Army chief stated that the military remains committed to its duty of ensuring peace and security in the country.

Yahaya stated that the army will ensure that all peace-loving citizens of this country go about their legitimate businesses and live their lives without fear or intimidation.

He, however, urged those fuelling the crises being witnessed across the country to desist from their unpatriotic acts.

He said: “I would like to seize this opportunity to advise those fuelling the crises being witnessed across the country to desist from their unpatriotic acts, as we remain committed to ensuring peace returns to every part of the country in no distant time.

“The Nigerian Army, within the ambit of rule of law, will talk to the terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other perpetrators of violence in the language they understand.

“We will ensure that all peace-loving citizens of this country go about their legitimate businesses and live their lives without fear or intimidation.”

The Army chief also advised military commanders to be more proactive, adding that he will not tolerate complacency.

He said: “Laissez-faire attitudes on the part of commanders would not be tolerated. Like I have always said, failure is a failure, irrespective of the circumstances.

“To that end, I have directed the appropriate departments to come up with modalities for the evaluation of the performance of commanders in the course of their command.

“Commanders must be proactive in the conduct of their operations. You must take the fight into the identified and known enclaves of terrorists and criminals to neutralise them.”