1,050 Boko Haram insurgents surrender, many still at large – Army

The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed that 1, 050 insurgents had surrendered to troops in Lake Chad and Monguno general area of operations.

The army warned surrounding communities to watch out for the fleeing Boko Haram insurgents as their enclaves in Lake Chad region come under intense onslaught.

Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri.

Nwachukwu disclosed that 250 fighters of the Al Barnawi-led faction of the insurgents had surrendered to Nigerian Army, sequel to artillery and aerial bombardments by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole of their enclaves in Lake Chad basin. He added that 700 insurgents also surrendered to troops at Monguno in an ongoing clearance operation.

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Nwachukwu explained that Mamman Nur, factional leader was wounded in battle and one of his wives killed.

“The insurgents are attempting to melt into communities in and around Kano, Geidam and Gashua axis unnoticed.

One of such fleeing commanders is Bana Bafui.

“Members of the general public, particularly in Kano, Geidam, Gashua, Hadejia and northern part of Jigawa State are therefore enjoined to be vigilant, watch out for strange faces in their communities and report same to security agencies.

“The Federal Government has provided a window through the Operation SAFE CORRIDOR to encourage the insurgents’ voluntary surrender.

“We call on Boko Haram insurgents to abandon the futile struggle; take advantage of the Safe Corridor programme and surrender to troops in any location nearest to them.

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“We guarantee their safety and incorporation into the programme for de-radicalization and rehabilitation,” he said.