240 Boko Haram fighters surrender to Nigerian Army

Boko Haram insurgents

Faced with hunger and sustained attack by the military on land and in the air, 240 members of Boko Haram have been forced out of their hideouts and surrendered to the Nigerian Army.

A statement signed by the Chief Military Public Information Officer, Colonel Muhammad Dole revealed that the terrorists surrendered during the Operation GAMA AIKI conducted by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) ground troops and joint air operation.

The military said the mass defection took place in Sector 2 Area of Responsibility (AOR) Bagasola in Chad, where most of the insurgents handed over their arms to the nearest locations of the ground forces in the operation areas.

“Sustained offensive operations and blockage of logistics supply routes made the terrorists’ locations untenable; as a result, BHT and their families abandoned their locations and surrendered with their arms to the nearest locations of the ground forces in the operation areas,” the statement said.

The Commander MNJTF, Major General Lamidi Adeosun addressed the former Boko Haram fighters and their families.

The Commander commended the leaders of former Boko Haram fighters for their courage and taking the right decision to abandoned terrorism and insurgency for normal life. He assured them of safety and good care as long as they remain in the camps.

He also urged them to encourage their colleagues in the bush to stop fighting and join them in the camps.

The Commander donated token cash for purchase of two cows and 10 bags of assorted food stuff for each of the two groups for the welfare and up keep of the ex-insurgents and their families.

The statement also confirmed that the incident brings the total number of surrendered terrorists to MNJTF troops in sector 2 to 464.