The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports that the Federal Government entered into a secret ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram, insisting that military operations against insurgents and other criminal groups remain ongoing across the country.

The military’s position was made public on Thursday by its spokesperson, Samaila Uba, during a joint security press briefing held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), an agency under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Uba categorically rejected claims of any truce between the Nigerian government and the insurgent group, maintaining that troops were continuing to pursue terrorists through sustained military operations.

“On the issue of whether there is a ceasefire with Boko Haram, I want to make it clear that there is nothing like a ceasefire,” he told journalists.

He argued that the military's continued offensives, arrests of suspected terrorists and rescue of kidnapped victims demonstrated that security forces had not reached any agreement to suspend hostilities with insurgents.

“Considering the terrorists neutralised, suspects arrested, victims rescued and other successes recorded across our operations, it is clear that we are not relenting. We will continue to sustain pressure on these criminal elements,” he added.

The denial comes nearly two months after international news platform, The New Humanitarian, published a report alleging that the Nigerian government had reached a secret ceasefire arrangement with the Bakura Doro-led faction of Boko Haram.

The report, published on September 7, 2026, and subsequently republished by PREMIUM TIMES, claimed that the agreement had been in operation since June and contributed to relative calm in parts of north-eastern Nigeria for approximately three months.

According to the publication, the alleged arrangement was expected to be extended and was connected to efforts to secure the release of more than 300 civilians abducted in March from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

However, the reported agreement was said to have excluded the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), another major insurgent group operating in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly continued attacks against military formations and civilian communities.

The allegations generated further controversy after HumAngle reported that a Boko Haram judge had publicly rejected the purported ceasefire and ransom arrangement.

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The report also cited sources familiar with the matter who suggested that a small group within Boko Haram might have accepted the government's proposal without obtaining approval from the organisation's top leadership.

Before Thursday's briefing, PREMIUM TIMES had reportedly contacted Uba for clarification on the allegations but received no response.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga also declined to comment, directing the newspaper to seek clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser or the Ministry of Defence.

Meanwhile, Uba stressed that the military's security campaign extended beyond Boko Haram and ISWAP, explaining that operations were also targeting kidnappers and other criminal networks threatening lives and property across the country.

Nigeria's counterterrorism campaign has been complicated by the existence of multiple factions operating under the Boko Haram umbrella, with different commanders maintaining influence across parts of the North-east and North-central regions.

One of the prominent figures is Bakura Doro, who is believed to operate from islands around Lake Chad, where limited security presence has reportedly allowed his faction to establish a stronghold.

Doro emerged as a major figure following the death of Boko Haram's former leader, Abubakar Shekau, during an internal conflict with ISWAP in 2021.

Other factions reportedly operating under the Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) network are associated with commanders Ali Ngulde, Alhai Kale and Mallam Sadiku, whose groups are believed to maintain operational bases in different parts of the country.

Despite the military's latest denial, the conflicting accounts surrounding the alleged negotiations have continued to raise questions about the government's engagement with insurgent factions and the circumstances surrounding efforts to secure the release of abducted civilians.