Nigerian Military Has No Power to Grant Bandits’ Amnesty — DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has stated that it is not within the constitutional role of the military to grant amnesty or determine the prosecutiono of surrender terrorists and bandits arrested during military operations.
The military high command stressed that such decisions rest with the appropriate government agencies and the judiciary.
This coming following recent reports of bandit commanders in Katsina State surrendering and releasing hostages in exchange for amnesty.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, made the clarification while fielding questions from journalists during the military’s quarterly operational briefing held at the in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking on the role of the Armed Forces in cases involving suspects arrested in various theatres of operation, General Kangye emphasized that the military’s primary responsibility is to arrest, detain temporarily, and hand over suspects to the appropriate authorities.
“The Armed Forces are not the ones to grant amnesty,” Kangye said. “We carry out operations based on the rules of engagement and existing military conduct. Once suspects are arrested, their cases are reviewed by relevant authorities not the military to determine if they will face prosecution or be granted amnesty.”
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He explained that the process of determining amnesty or legal outcomes for detainees involves a thorough evaluation by civil authorities, including the judiciary, not by operational commanders or military high command.
“It’s not for the people to suggest who gets amnesty. And it’s certainly not within our operational mandate to make that decision,” he said.
When asked about a reported legal action filed by the Okuma community in connection with an ongoing investigation, Kangye reiterated that the DHQ had not received any official court injunction concerning the case.
“If there is a court order, we will act accordingly. But as of today, there is no such order before us. We have legal teams that advise us when the need arises, and we respond appropriately.”
He used the opportunity to reinforce the need for civic vigilance, sharing an anecdote about a senior citizen in foreign land who volunteered to monitor unknown individuals in her community and report them to local authorities.
“National security is not the job of the military alone. Every citizen has a role to play. Reporting something unusual might just prevent a major security incident,” Kangye said.
He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the military remains committed to operating within the bounds of the law, in full compliance with the rules of engagement and international humanitarian standards.
“The military is not afraid of legal processes. We are professionals, and we will continue to act responsibly in all our operations,” he added.
By PRNigeria
