Scores of Boko Haram members surrender, Nigerian Army says

The Nigerian Army on Sunday said scores of members of the Boko Haram insurgent group have surrendered their arms.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Sani Usman, the army said the insurgents began surrendering when they realised that the ‘new strategies’ being deployed by soldiers was becoming successful.
“The new strategies employed included sustained offensive operations, pre-emptive air strikes by the Nigerian Airforce and routes blocking by ground troops all geared towards constricting and snuffing out the Boko Haram terrorists,” the Army said.

The Army’s new offensive, tagged’ Operation Lafiya Dole’, followed the appointment of Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant General, as the Chief of Army Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr. Buratai, an indigene of Borno, last week visited Gamboru, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon, which was recently retaken from the insurgents. The Army chief stayed the night there, fraternised with soldiers on the field, and pledged not to lose any territory to the terrorists whose insurgency has caused the death of about 20,000 people since 2009.

Read the army’s full statement of Sunday below

The new strategies being employed by the military have started yielding positive results with scores of terrorists surrendering to troops and many more willing to surrender. The new strategies employed included sustained offensive operations, pre-emptive air strikes by the Nigerian Airforce and routes blocking by ground troops all geared towards constricting and snuffing out the Boko Haram terrorists.

Many of the terrorists that willingly surrendered painted images of mass panic and hysteria among their erstwhile colleagues who are feeling the noose tightening on their necks with the relentless efforts of troops and renewed vigour in operations inspired by the personal leadership of the Chief of Army Staff.

Terrorists also seem to have an inkling of what happens to surrendered suspects as regards screening and deredicalisation of innocent ones among them.

The Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Airforce and other security agencies will continue to devise and implement effective strategies to bring Boko Haram terrorism to a speedy end. It will also continue to receive surrendering suspects and assures innocent ones among them that surrender is the only option open to them. The Nigerian Army wishes to also appreciate the great support and information it receives from well meaning citizens.

More of these are required to help towards quicker obliteration of the Boko Haram scourge in our nation.

PREMIUM TIMES