Residents of Damaturu, Yobe, have expressed reservations over the ceasefire reached between the Federal Government and Boko Haram insurgents.

Reacting to the development on Friday, some residents of the town told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that: “We are skeptical about the agreement”.

Uprooted from their homes by Boko Haram

Alhaji Baba Buni, a resident of Buni-Yadi who fled to Damaturu because of the insurgency, said it was too early to celebrate the ceasefire agreement.

Malam Haruna Kali, another resident, equally expressed similar sentiments.

“Sometimes in the past we were told that the Boko Haram sect had nominated Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi to negotiate ceasefire on their behalf, but they later denied him.

“We will wait to hear from the sect before believing anything, because, for now, we have not heard from them,” he said.

NAN reports that many other residents of the town refused to comment on the matter for security reasons.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh announced the ceasefire today in Abuja during the close of the three-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 days 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 the Ahlul Sunna Li Dawaa Wal Jihad (Boko Haram).

“I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field.’’

The army spokesperson, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, 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 Chief of Defence Staff has given directive to all the service chiefs to ensure that it is complied with immediately on the field and that information has gone to the troops in the field.

“I don’t speak for them (Boko Haram), I speak for the Nigerian Armed Forces and we are going to comply because the FG has entered into an agreement in that respect.’’