Over 8,000 Boko Haram Terrorists Have Surrendered, Says Army GOC
THE Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdulwahab Eyitayo, has announced that over 8,000 Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to Nigerian troops.
The development, he said, follows intensified military operations in Sambisa Forest and other known hideouts of the insurgents.
Brig. Gen. Eyitayo, who also serves as Commander, Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this during a visit by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, alongside a team of Defence Correspondents from Abuja. The visit took place in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
According to him, the continuous surrender of Boko Haram members is largely due to the increased pressure mounted by troops, including sustained bombardments and strategic blockades of the terrorists’ supply routes.
“One of the main reasons they are surrendering in large numbers is the overwhelming firepower from our troops,” Eyitayo said. “Most of them are motivated by concern for their families’ well-being, which is why they are surrendering with their wives and children. We began seeing these signs as early as June.”
He added that the Nigerian Army’s operations have significantly disrupted the logistics and morale of the insurgents, while illness and internal fatigue have further weakened their ranks.
“We are reaching a point where the window for surrender will no longer be available,” the GOC warned. “Those who support these enemies of the state will also be treated as enemies.”
On the handling of surrendered individuals, Eyitayo clarified that the Nigerian Army is responsible for receiving and screening them. Once profiled, the individuals are handed over to the Borno State Government for further processing.
He noted that many of those who surrendered were women, children, and individuals who had been forcibly conscripted into the terrorist group.
Also speaking, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that the media tour was organized to provide accurate information and counter misinformation surrounding the surrender of terrorists.
He commended the ongoing efforts of the troops and urged continued support from the public in the fight against insurgency.
THE Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. Abdulwahab Eyitayo, on Tuesday, said that more than 8,000 Boko Haram terrorists have so far surrendered to troops
He said the terrorists surrendered from their enclaves in Sambisa Forests, as well as other hideouts.
Eyitayo, who is also the Commander, Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this during a visit by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu and a team of Defence Correspondents form Abuja on Tuesday, in Maiduguri.
He said the surrender by the repentant terrorists was a welcome development, adding that, the overwhelming fire power of the troops was responsible
According to him, one of the reasons they are surrendering in droves is the overwhelming fire power from the troops.
” It is because every man’s endeavour is motivated by his family’s wellbeing, that is why they are coming out with their families. We started seeing the signs from June.
“Our intensified operations had blocked their logistics’ routes and supplies, bombardments all over, that is why they started surrendering and diseases have overpowered many of them.
“It was better because in the end, the troops will clear all of them and their sympathisers combined,” he said.
The GOC warned that a time would come that the window of surrender would no longer be available, urging the sympathisers of the terrorists to encourage them to come out.
He added that whoever supported the enemies of the state would also be treated as an enemy by the state forces.
He said the military was more determined than ever to deal decisively with the terrorists and their supporters.
On the handling of the surrendered terrorists, Eyitayo disclosed that the Nigerian army was responsible for receiving, profiling or screening of the terrorists.
The GOC stated that afterwards, they would be handed over to the Borno government for further action.
He explained that a sizeable number of the surrendered, comprised wives and children of the terrorists, as well as those that were forcefully recruited into their folds.
Earlier, the director, army public relations, said the media tour was part of efforts to counter the wrong narratives and apprehensions generated by recent surrenders of the terrorists.
Nwachukwu acknowledged and commended efforts of the troops in putting pressure on the terrorists to abandon their illicit activities. (NAN)