The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf on Tuesday assured Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who recently surrendered of humane treatment.
Major General Yusuf, who spoke in Hausa, told the surrendered terrorists during an interaction in Mora, Extreme North Region, Cameroun, that the entire Boko Haram /ISWAP idea is misplaced and orchestrated by a few misguided individuals who desire to inflict suffering on millions of people in the Lake Chad Basin, for their own selfish and personal interests.
The Commander therefore urged them to encourage their former colleagues and friends who are still in the bush to come out and surrender.
He informed them that countries affected by Boko Haram Insurgency have developed their respective Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Resettlement (DD/RR) programs to address the peculiar challenges introduced by the Boko Haram Insurgency.
In his remarks, the spokesperson of the group (name with held) commended MNJTF authorities for accommodating and catering for them and their families.
He observed that contrary to a widely held opinion that fighters who surrender are being killed, members of his group are safe.
“Our Commanders told us that we would be killed if we surrender, but here we are being treated like human beings.”
He expressed regret over the atrocities that they were misled to commit and prayed for forgiveness.
Spokesperson of the MNJTF, Colonel Timothy Antigha, who issued a statement on the interaction with the surrendered terrorists, said that the Force Commander also used the opportunity to operationalize the European Union funded direct supply of Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants to Sector 1 of the MNJTF.
It would be recalled that a fortnight ago, the MNJTF launched the programme in Sector 4 Diffa (Niger Republic) . All sectors of the MNJTF are benefiting from the European Union intervention.
Commander Sector 1, Brigadier General Bouba Dobekreo , Staff Officers from HQ MNJTF and Sector 1, among other dignitaries witnessed the ceremony.