Over 300 members of the deadly terror group, Boko Haram are believed to have surrendered in the last one week, according to Vanguard, which claimed that many terrorists waging war against the country appeared to have been weakened by the renewed military onslaught against their various hideouts in North east Nigeria, and are now willing to lay down their arms in return for amnesty from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The development comes on the crest of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state disclosure that his administration is satisfied with the number of insurgents that have surrendered to the military in recent times. The state is the epicenter of terrorists’ activities in the country.
Those who have now laid down their arms in the last few days are some of the best weapons assemblers and IEDs experts, the newspaper said in a report.
As a result, defence experts are saying that the days of the insurgents appeared to be numbered, after more than 10 years of unleashing terror on the country following the killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf on July 30, 2009. He was just 39 years old at the time.
One of those that have surrendered, sources said is Amir Abu Darda (terrorist Commander) in charge of IED’s, Improvised Explosive Device making for the group. Apart from him, 20 IED experts, with weapons and other incendiaries were said to have surrendered to troops in the last few days.
Many of the terrorists according to findings are said to be coming out from the Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad axis following a no holds barred and relentless unleashing of land bombardments by the Nigerian Army with artillery and infantry firepower while the Nigerian Airforce is dropping sorties with precision and leveling their hideouts in caves and enclaves.
At the same time, Nigerian Navy gunboats and platforms deployed at the Lake Chad, supported by Airforce jets are smoking out the terrorist’s bases in the Tumbus and tributaries through which they carry out occasional attacks on communities in Borno and Yobe states
While this is ongoing, the military is simultaneously intensifying its non-kinetic operations and giving communities which had been traumatized for years that with their support through valuable information and cooperation, the criminal elements will be quickly smoked out.
A senior military source told Vanguard that aside the impact of the fire-power from troops, “Our kinetic and non-kinetic lines of operations are paying off. That is why about 300 BHT surrendered. Moreover, those that have surrendered are treated within the ambit of international best practices.
“We believe that the feedback of how those who surrendered are treated is getting back. The role of intelligence is massive but as you know, intelligence successes are not visibly seen when inserted but the outcomes are currently manifesting.
“This unfolding mixed technique and humane handling of surrendered members are tangible steps towards ultimate success. The media also has been key to shaping and boosting troops resolve to continue their aggressive posture.
The senior source urged the media and citizens to continue to maintain their confidence on the military efforts and condition the insurgents towards accepting defeat as we progress.
In keeping to international best practices, the source pointed out that within the last one month, over 150 insurgents who renounced their criminal involvement in the warped belief of the group were released to government.
