The war against terrorism and insurgency is being won by the Nigerian army it seems with the Defence authorities reporting that not less than 800 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect had surrendered to the military in the last three weeks.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed this in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said, “I can confirm that about 800 of the Boko Haram members have surrendered to the military.”
This is coming hot on the heels of the proposed plan to rehabilitate repentant Boko Haram members, an operation called ‘Safe Corridor’.
Abubakar had said that the insurgents would be made to go through vocational training under the programme and empowered for reintegration into the society.
The Nigerian Army also said on Wednesday that it had rescued 11,595 captives of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East in the last one month.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Wednesday that some of the hostages were rescued from the communities erstwhile under Boko Haram control in the North-East while others were received from Cameroon.
He said “On March 1, 2016, troops of 155 Task Force Battalion received 10,000 refugees from the Republic of Cameroon at Banki and Bama axis.
“Two days later, Army Headquarters Special Forces (AHQ SF) Battalion also rescued 63 persons held captives by terrorists at Maleri. The same unit on 5th March 2016 rescued 779 persons at Fotokol general area, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon.
“Within the first week of March 2016, the 254 Task Force Battalion also rescued 45 persons at Kuaguru, while 143 Battalion similarly rescued 27 persons at Gadayamo,15 at Galadadani Dam in Madagali and 10 persons from Disa village.
‘’On March 11, 2016, troops of 231 Battalion and Armed Forces Strike Force (AFSF) also rescued seven persons held captives by Boko Haram terrorists at Betso village; 5 of whom were elderly women and 2 young girls.”