Insurgency: ISWAP Massively Recruiting, Army Warns; Appeals To Media To Block Process

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Army has revealed the move by Terrorist Group, Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, to massively recruit personnels to strengthen its Group following the recent death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

The Army warned against the massive recruitment drive. It said it has gathered information to enable Nigeria arrest non-state actors involved in violence.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyeama Nwachukwu, was quoted by local media as saying that ISWAP recruitment is motivated by the recent death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and the surrender, in large numbers, of many armed groups and their disciples in the North East.

Nwachukwu said “They have  embarked on what I will call a massive recruitment drive and I consider it very important to engage the media to block this recruitment.”

He made this known  during his tour of Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai Maimalari, in Maiduguri, Bornu State.

He said ISWAP has suffered immense defeat in recent times, leading to the surrender of many of their members apart from the intra-organisational crisis they face.

“The Boko Haram insurgents have been surrendering. People have questioned the authenticity of the surrendering of these insurgents and why they are surrendering at this time.

Maimalari said “There are also the questions on the reintegration of these insurgents. Another question is what the plight of the victims of the insurgency is.

“That is the essence of this tour. The military is not resting on its oars in the fight to end insurgency and insecurity in the country,” Nwachukwu said.

He praised the Army and other security operatives for the success so far recorded in decimating the insurgents.

“At some point, the insurgents almost took over the three state capitals of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the North-East. Some three years back, Boko Haram was advancing towards the Federal Capital Territory. Today they have been boxed in to the Timbuks,” the Army spokesperson noted.

The theater Commander, Theater Command, Operations Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa, said the military operations are being guided by international laws.