Additional 240 Boko Haram fighters lay down their arms and surrender to regional forces

ABOUT 240 Boko Haram fighters have laid down their arms and surrendered to government forces in Borno State after being pounded from the air and on the ground by troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

 

Set up last year as a combined military operation involving Nigeria, Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon, the MNJTF is charged with eliminating Boko Haram from the region. Yesterday, the force stepped up its attacks against the terrorists in an assault with the codename Operation Gama Aiki, forcing them to flee and many to surrender.

 

Apparently, the terrorists surrendered following sustained offensive operations and the blocking of logistics supply routes, which made their locations untenable. According to Colonel Muhammad Dole, the MNJTF spokesman, it was a result of the sustained offensive that the Boko Haram suspects and their families abandoned their locations and surrendered with their arms to the nearest locations of the ground forces.

 

Col Dole said: “The recent wave of mass defection took place in Sector Two Area of Responsibility (AOR) Bagasola in Chad. A total of 240 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered, some of them with arms and ammunition and they are now being profiled and camped in Bagasola.

 

“During his operational visit to Sector 2 AOR, the MNJTF commander Major General Lamidi Adeosun, addressed the ex-Boko Haram terrorists and their families. He commended the leaders of the ex-Boko Haram terrorists for their courage and taking the right decision to abandoned terrorism and insurgency for normal life."

 

Major General Adeosun, assured them of safety and good care as long as they remain in the camps and urged them to encourage their colleagues in the bush to stop fighting and join them in the camps. According to Major General Adeosun, this peaceful disarming and profiling of the ex-Boko Haram terrorists by the MNJTF forces, clearly demonstrated extent of professionalism and adherence to International Humanitarian Laws and Laws of Armed Conflict in combat operations.

 

“This brings to the total number of surrendered Boko Haram terrorists to MNJTF troops in sector two to 464. The ex- Boko Haram terrorists are expected to receive trainings in different skills and small businesses as scheduled by government agencies and NGOs," Major General Adeosun added.