Mass surrender of insurgents excites N-East group
2 min read.…Says Gen. Irabor’s
kinetic, non-kinetic approach masterstroke
…Calls on remaining terrorists to surrender now
By Miracle Olotuche
A renowned pressure group, the North-East Rebuild Initiative, NERI, has commended the ongoing military operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in the zone, which is forcing huge numbers of them to surrender.
The group, while welcoming the current De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration, DRR, programme for repented terrorists, however, attributed the mass surrender of insurgents to successful application of both kinetic and non-kinetic measures by the Armed forces of Nigeria.
It noted that since the assumption of office of the present Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor, the war against insurgents has taken a different dimension from hitherto noisy to more remarkable positive results.
President of NERI, Gambo Katagum, who made the commendation via a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, added that the confirmation by Gen. Irabor that no fewer than 51,828 terrorists’ fighters and their family members surrendered to the Federal Government between July 2021 and May 2022 was a testimony of the good work being done by our troops to restore peace and stability in the country.
The group expressed optimism that the remaining insurgents have no option but to surrender in the wake of intense onslaughts on them by troops of the Armed forces of Nigeria.
According to the group, “Just recently, troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed unconfirmed numbers of Boko Haram fighters as it raided 6 camps of the terrorist group successfully in Bula Agaida, Bula Yaga, Bula Lambai, Kuluri, Bula Umar and New Churchur in Bama Local Government Area.
“Similarly, troops in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, stormed the hideout of ISWAP in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 41 of the terrorists including a Commander, Abu Zahra while others fled for their lives.
“In same period, Troops of 222 Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai killed several members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, in the North East of Konduga in Borno state.
“And just this Monday, March 27, 2023, troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled ISWAP attack on a military formation in the volatile northeast of Kunnari near Burutai town in Biu Local Government Area, Borno State.
“The troops overwhelmed the terrorists in a gun battle and eliminated eight of them while others fled the scene.
“North-East Rebuild Initiative is therefore calling on remaining insurgents to lay down arms as the Armed forces of Nigeria under Gen LEO Irabor from all indications will not allow them to disturb the peace of the region.”
