19 more ‘Boko Haram fighters’ surrender to troops in Borno

The Nigerian Army says 19 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to its troops in Bama, Borno state.

This development comes three days after 28 insurgents surrendered in the area.

Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the insurgents surrendered following the ongoing offensives carried out by troops in the area.

According to him, different weapons were also recovered from the insurgents.

“In continuation of the ongoing intensive clearance operations across the theatre of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), more Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and elements of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their families, who have hitherto hibernated around the fringes of Sambisa forest have yielded to troops’ heavy artillery and air bombardments and surrendered to troops at Forward Operational Base (FOB) Banki Junction/BOCOBS in Bama, Borno State on 2 August 2021,” the statement reads.

“The terrorists who also surrendered several assorted weapons and incendiaries, comprised 19 male fighters, 19 adult females and 49 children from Njimia village and environs.

“The terrorists lamented that the ground and condition in the forest have become untenable, hence their surrendering.

“The fire arms and incendiaries recovered from the terrorists include, 8 AK 47 rifles, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 2 Fabrique Nationale (FN) Rifles, 1 Dane Gun, 1 Makarov Pistol, 89 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 89 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 66 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 5 x 9mm rounds of ammunition, 2 Hand Grenades, 27 AK 47 Rifle magazines and 2 FN Rifle magazines.

“Others are 1 pistol magazine, 1 x 60mm Mortar Bomb, 10 x14.5mm empty cases, 2 primed suicide vests, 72 trigger switches, 10 primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), 5 Electric Detonating Chords, 6 packs of Water Gel Explosives, 6 Mobile Phones, 1 Camel Pack, 1 Camouflage bag, 2 Hard drives, 1 Plier, 2 Unserviceable Hand-held Radios, 2 Scissors and Needles, 2 Match Boxes and the sum of Fifty-Five Thousand Naira (N55,000:00) only.

“The terrorists and their families are currently undergoing comprehensive security profiling and preliminary investigations, while the children have been administered with oral polio vaccines.”

He added that Faruk Yahaya, chief of army staff, commended the troops for the sustained clearance operations conducted in the area.