By John Ikani
At least 56 Boko Haram/ Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists have laid down their arms and embraced peace, the Nigerian Army said on Thursday in a statement.
The development comes about 24 hours after the army announced that some Boko Haram fighters and their families which consist of 19 male fighters, 19 adult females and 49 children surrendered due to unbearable conditions in their trenches.
The Army, in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops sustained air and artillery bombardments on the enclaves of the terrorists in Sambisa Forest and its environs, was responsible for this.
According to the statement titled, ‘Operation Hadin Kai: Again more terrorists surrender as troops escalate operations across North East theatre’ the surrendered persons include 18 male fighters along with their families including 18 adult females and 19 children.
It listed arms recovered from the surrendered terrorists to include, 5 AK 47 rifles, 1 foreign AK 47 rifle with telescopic sight, 1 Fabrique Nationale rifle, 8 AK 47 rifle magazines, 1 FN rifle magazine, 1 Bandolier, 3 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition and the sum of Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred naira (#7,700.00) only.
The statement further noted that a Boko Haram fighter from Abuja Asamau Village in Sambisa Forest, also surrendered to own troops with his AK 47 rifle, 2 magazines, 1 Magazine holder, 1 round of 7.62mm special and the sum of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000:00).
What you should know
In less than two weeks, over 100 BHTs/ISWAP terrorists and their families have succumbed to ferocious offensive operations of Nigerian troops by laying down their arms and giving up the fight, as their enclaves are being bombarded by the combined efforts of the Air component and ground troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
