240 Boko Haram fighters ‘surrender’

The Nigeria army says 240 Boko Haram insurgents have surrendered.

‎Muhammad Dole, chief military public information officer‎, said this in a statement issued late Monday.

He said the firepower of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) forced the insurgents to lay down their arms and ammunition.

Dole said the insurgents surrendered on Chadian soil.

“The firepower of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) ground troops and joint air operation during the Operation Gama Aiki forced a massive defection of remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists (BHT),” Dole said.

“Sustained offensive operations and blockage of logistics supply routes made the terrorists’ locations untenable; as a result, BHT and their families abandoned their locations and surrendered with their arms to the nearest locations of the ground forces in the operation areas.

“The recent wave of mass defection took place in Sector 2 Area of Responsibility (AOR) Bagasola in Chad. A total of Two Hundred and Forty (240) BHT surrendered some of them with arms and ammunition.”

He added that they were being profiled and camped at Bagasola.

Dole also said that Lamidi Adeosun, commander MNJTF, commended the insurgents for their action.

“The commander commended the leaders of the ex- BHT for their courage and taking the right decision to abandon terrorism and insurgency for normal life,” he said.

“He assured them of safety and good care as long as they remain in the camps. He also urged them to encourage their colleagues in the bush to stop fighting and join them in the camps.

“The commander MNJTF donated token cash for purchase of two cows and 10 bags of assorted food stuff for each of the two groups for the welfare and up keep of the ex-BHT and their families.

“This brings to the total number of surrendered BHT to MNJTF troops in sector 2 to 464.”