16 persons, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect and Islamic State, West Africa Province have surrendered themselves, along with eight of their wives, to army troops at Fotokol in Borno State.
-This followed consistent raids, clearance patrols, sting operations, cordon and search operations as well as mortar and artillery bombardment of identified insurgents and bandits’ hideouts in the northern parts of the country within the past one week.
The coordinator of the Nigerian Army Operations
(Media), Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, made the disclosure
in a statement made available to Saturday, on
Friday.
Stating several other suspected terrorists were
neutralised in the operations, the army media
coordinator further said several Boko Haram
logistics suppliers and informants were also
intercepted and arrested by troops of Operation
Lafiya Dole.
“On 1 November 2019 for instance, 16 insurgents
along, with eight of their spouses who could no
longer bear the heat from the onslaught against
them surrendered to the relentless troops of Sector
1, Multinational Joint Task Force at Fotokol.
“Subsequently, the surrendered insurgents were later
handed over to troops of 3 Battalion (Main) at
Gamboru Ngala, a border town north-east of Borno
State.
“During preliminary interrogation and profiling, they
confessed to have actively participated in attacks
conducted against both military and civilian targets
at various times,”
the statement read.
Colonel Aminu listed the names of 14 of the
suspects as Ibrahim Bunu, Abba Sale, Baba Lamba
Alhaji, Bukar Isa, Bukar Ali, Rawa Abba Gana,
Mustapha Abatcha, Umar Abubakar, Hassan Bukar,
Malam Abatcha Ali, Abba Umar Abatcha, Hussaini
Babagana, Idris Mohammed and Umar Abba
Bayoma.
He said the 14 suspects were members of the
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), led by
Al-Barnawi, while the remaining two, Hassan Kawu
and Babagana Bukar Adijabe, belonged to Boko
Haram (the Abubakar Shekau faction).
“The repentant insurgents, however, regretted their
participation in the heinous crimes they committed
against humanity and are now calling on their
former colleagues to retrace their steps and also
surrender to troops before it is too late,”
he said.
Young-po Reporters 