Members of Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, have advised the Federal Government to open an amnesty window for arms-bearing herdsmen and other terrorists in the country to curb the spate of attacks in the country. The group made its position known in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo. The group commended the Federal Government for deploying troops to volatile areas in the country to contain the menace of Fulani herdsmen.

The Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Mallam Lawal Daura has disclosed the reason why the release of the kidnapped University of Miaduguri lecturers as well as some women abducted by Boko Haram sect was delayed. Daura who spoke on Tuesday when the released victims were presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House said the Service in collaboration with the Military opted for negotiation because military efforts toward securing their release could have endangered their lives.

Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, says negotiating with Boko Haram was the “safest” means of rescuing the three abducted lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and 10 women from captivity.

The woman and lecturers were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in June and July, respectively.

The women were abducted from a police convoy in Borno state while going for a burial and the lecturers were taken hostage while on oil exploration in the Lake Chad basin.

Speaking on Monday at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and the freed captives, Daura said any attempt to rescue the victims forcefully could have endangered their lives.

The Nigerian Army on Monday, claims by the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, that the military was responsible for the recent suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ attack and abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Technical College in Dapchi.

The military through the Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, described the allegations as unfortunate and far from the truth.

The State Governor had on Saturday while receiving his Borno State countertpart, blamed the abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls on the withdrawal of security personnel from communities in the state.

He alleged that security check points were withdrawn from Dapchi and other communities, few days before the attack, a development which he believes gave room for the incident.

Troops in Borno killed five Boko Haram insurgents and captured a top commander of the group in the ongoing operation in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad basin. Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, in a statement in Maiduguri, said troops also rescued three civilians, recovered vehicles and high calibre ammunition in various operations in the past two days.

The Nigerian Army has debunked media reports that it assisted the leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau to escape arrest after troops of Operation DEEP PUNCH II closed in on him. Recall that some reports had indicated that the Military High Command ordered the withdrawal of troops that had almost effected the arrest of AShekau in a circumstance that was unclear. The development has triggered widespread allegations that the Army may have issued the order to facilitate his escape.