The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday announced it has reached a ceasefire agreement with the Boko Haram sect with the hope that the agreement will return the 219 abducted Chibok school girls and captives of the Boko Haram.
The ceasefire agreement of both party was the outcome of series of meetings and talks over the release of over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the sect. about 6 months ago.
The Chief of Defence Staff announced the agreement during the close of the 3 day coordinating conference on Nigeria/Cameroon trans-border military operations with the Cameroonian Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Claude Rene.
“Without any prejudice to the outcome of our three-day interactions and the conclusion of this forum, I wish to inform this audience that a ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Boko Haram.
“I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field.’’
The army spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, also said that the directive to the service chiefs had gone to the field and that it would be adhered to immediately.
He, however, said that he didn’t speak for the insurgents but for the Nigerian armed forces and could only clarify that the Nigerian army would comply with the directive.
The 3 day meeting produced a communiqué signed by the two countries on the outcome of deliberations by the delegates of the countries.
The communiqué was read by Air Commodore Humphrey Okpala.
“The technical experts of both sides at plenary session deliberated on a wide range of issues.
“The objective was to enhance cooperation and collaboration to agree on ways and means for effective military operations to curb the insecurity and criminality within our common borders.
“This discussion focused on coordination, intelligence sharing, communication, media plan and procedures of handling displaced persons and refugees.
“The meeting resolved that each party should coordinate and plan its operations under the agreed permanent simultaneous operations.
“While guaranteeing information flow through agreed liaison officers and focal points at the tactical operational levels as agreed during the deliberations.”
The communique also stated that the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff laid special emphasis on the excellent state of cooperation between the two countries.
It said the defence chief expressed the will for the collective determination to address the challenges of terrorism and other acts of criminality confronting both countries especially in the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).
It added that the Cameroonian Chief of Defence Staff expressed satisfaction with the ongoing efforts to address issues bordering on cross border problems and challenges existing along the common borders of both countries.
According to the communiqué the parties agreed that the meeting for the second coordinating conference of the armed forces of the two countries would be held in Cameroon at a later date. (NAN).
Source: Primetimesng.
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