Nigerian Military says 11 Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered, others dump 72 family members
Barely two days after the factional leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau was reported to have wept in a viral audio seeking Allah’s protection for members of his group from the ‘devilish act’ of the Nigerian troops, the Military said 11 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Adamawa State.
A statement by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, on Friday, said the terrorists who surrendered on Monday May 11, 2020 are being profiled for further action.
Enenche added that 72 persons were also rescued from the terrorists and more terrorists are likely to surrender following the dropping off of 72 of their family members at the entrance of Ngala town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday May 10, 2020 around 8.30pm.
“All of them (comprising 33 women and 39 children) are in custody of troops for further action,” he said. “This number of surrendered BHT/ISWAP fighters is an indication of the heat of our operational activities on the terrorists due to the renewed impetus in the theatre to end the criminality.”
In the last one month, the Nigerian and Chadian military have intensified their onslaught against the terrorists. Neusroom reports that in April, Chadian President, Idriss Deby Itno, joined his country’s soldiers in the front line of the fight against Boko Haram to decimate the terrorists from Chadian territory. The Nigerian military has also been at the intensified its attack against the terrorist groups and its recent activities have led to the deaths of many terrorists in Borno and Adamawa states.
The military advised other fighters “to come out of the bush/hideouts to surrender,” and also called on “parents, traditional rulers, community, opinion and religious leaders to urge their wards and children not to succumb to inducements by the BHT/ISWAP for recruitment into their fold because the temporarily surviving terrorists are now in dire need of fighters.”
The military’s statement added that the de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration programme for ex-fighters under Operation SAFE CORRIDOR has recorded tremendous success and 280 clients who have successfully passed through the programme have been reintegrated into the society, 25 of this number were repatriated to Niger Republic, while another 603 are due to pass out in June 2020.
