16 BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS AND THEIR WIVES SURRENDER IN BORNO

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 Iliayasu, made the disclosure in a statement made available to Saturday, on Friday.


Stating several other suspected terrorists were neutralized 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.