In a related development, the Nigerian military has reactivated its alert level in order not to allow what it has described as criminal elements or disgruntled terrorist cells taking advantage of the ceasefire to wreak havoc on the North-east or seize territories.
According to a security source, the military rather than being on the offensive in violation of the ceasefire agreement has adopted a self-defence strategy aimed at protecting lives and properties of Nigerian citizens as well as defending the territorial integrity of the country.
The source also revealed that the military has come under tremendous pressure from the government to refrain from going on the offensive against the perpetrators of the recent attacks in Borno and Adamawa, even though there have been adequate response and return of fire when troops came under attack.
“The self-defence strategy the military has adopted is not just defending themselves but also defending Nigeria’s territory. The ceasefire is not about ceasing fire when an enemy is invading your territory or killing your citizens and you keep quiet. No, it is not done that way.
“There is also enormous pressure on the military from the political class for restraint in the face of provocation by some criminal elements acting as Boko Haram members or those trying to truncate the ceasefire agreement. However, this does not mean that military should not defend themselves, the Nigerian territory and its citizens,” the source said.
The new approach was also supported by a security analyst and former Director in the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Mike Ejiofor, who said the federal government and military should ensure that the country’s territorial integrity is preserved.
“I think despite the need to sustain the ceasefire agreement, the position of the federal government and in fact that of the military is that the country’s territory must be defended if or when attacked,” Ejiofor said.
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