DHQ: 13,243 insurgents have surrendered so far

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says 13,243 insurgents and their families have so far surrendered to the army in the north-east.

Bernard Onyeuko, acting director, defence media operations, spoke on Thursday while giving an update on military operations across the country.

According to Onyeuko, the surrendered insurgents comprise 3,243 males, 3,868 females and 6,234 children.

Onyeuko said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai had sustained “aggressive posture with vigour in the north-east” which had yielded significant results in the last two weeks.

He said the series of land and air operations conducted in different locations across the north-east theatre had reduced the operational capabilities of the insurgents, with several of them killed.

He said several other insurgents were arrested alongside their informants and logistics suppliers.

“Some of these feats were recorded at Gwoza – Yamtake – Bita road, Gwoza – Farm Centre – Yamtake road, Mandara Mountain area as well as Pulka and Hambagda towns, all in Borno,” Onyeuko said.

“Cumulatively, within the period, a total of 29 terrorists were neutralised and 13 terrorists including their informants/collaborators and logistics suppliers were arrested in the course of the operations.

“Additionally, a total of 38 assorted weapons and 968 rounds of assorted ammunition, as well as 48 rustled livestock among several other items were recovered.

“So far, a total of 13,243 terrorists and their families comprising 3,243 males, 3,868 females and 6,234 children, have surrendered to troops at different locations in the north-east.”

Onyeuko added that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out air interdiction missions to foil Boko Haram/ISWAP attack on ground troops’ location at Aulari village, in Bama area of Borno.

He said the operations led to the destruction of three gun trucks belonging to the insurgents while scores of their fighters were killed.