The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday said a total of 565 out of the 5,890 Boko Haram//Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Northeast region of the country have been handed over to the Borno State Government.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, told journalists at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, that the terrorists were released to the State government for further management “after thorough profiling.”
General Onyeuko noted that the 5,890 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered to the troops between August 12 and September 1, 2021.
Onyeuko noted that they comprise of three top commanders, five cattle rustling specialists, foot soldiers and family members.
Penultimate Tuesday, Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, said over 2,600 Bojo Haram/ISWAP terrorists and their families are in custody in his State.
But the Governor insists that not all the terrorists who have surrendered are criminals.
General Onyeuko told journalists that “within the period under review, troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained their operations against terrorists in the North East theatre. The counter-insurgency efforts of the troops through kinetic and non-kinetic operations compelled the terrorists to surrender in large numbers.
“Suffice to note that, within the last few weeks, more than 5,890 terrorists comprising foot soldiers and their commanders have surrendered with their families to our own troops in the North East Zone.
“A total of 565 BHT’s comprising 3 Commanders, 4 Amirs, 5 Nakibs and 5 cattle rustling specialists, out of the surrendered BHTs and their family members were handed over to the Borno State Government in Maiduguri for further management after thorough profiling.”
The senior military officer added that no fewer than 52 assorted arms and 1,977 rounds of 7.62mm assorted calibre ammunition, including AK-47 and FN rifles with magazines, hand grenades, commando mortar guns, locally fabricated rifles, Dushka anti-aircraft guns, Dane guns and Nigerian Police rifles among other items were recovered from surrendered terrorists.
He also said that a total number of seven terrorists’ collaborators and informants as well as their logistics suppliers were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies for necessary actions.
