Some Boko Haram commanders, who surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army, have pleaded with Nigerians to forgive them.
The Spokesperson of the Army, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement that the commanders, including a Chief bomb expert, surrendered in Borno State.
Pictures shared online showed the insurgents holding placards with the inscription “Nigerians, please forgive us” while being paraded.
Onyema said the Boko Haram insurgents surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Bama Local Government Area of the state.
The terrorists and their families were received at the headquarters of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade in Bama by the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Brigadier General Abdulwahab Adelokun Eyitayo, on Saturday.
The statement read, “Following the recent escalation of offensive operations coupled with non kinetic efforts by troops of operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) which yielded massive surrendering of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province Terrorists in the North East, the Chief Bomb Expert of the terrorists group known as Musa Adamu a.k.a Mala Musa Abuja and his second in command Usman Adamu a.k.a Abu Darda along with their families and followers have also finally surrendered to the troops of operation HADIN KAI in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
“During the visit, the GOC said their decision to drop their arms and come out is highly commendable, adding that they should also try and talk to their brothers and colleagues in the forest to come out and embrace the new life of peace and rehabilitation. General Eyitayo who spoke through an interpreter further disclosed that they will undergo some rehabilitation process at a Government facility before reintegration into the larger society.
“While distributing new cloths and assorted food items, groceries and toiletries to the surrendered terrorists and their families totaling 335 fighters, 746 adult women and children including one of the abducted Chibok girls, it was observed that the reasons for such massive turn was basically due to the intensified Nigerian military campaign on their enclaves and environs and also with the overwhelming famine, discontent, internal skirmishes, health challenges as well as untold hardship.
“The Nigerian military has resolved to intensify its both kinetic and non-kinetic approach towards the ongoing fight against insurgency in order to leverage on the knowledge of Musa Adamu and Usman Adamu and also with the current wave of turnout by terrorists to enable her achieve both short and long term counter-insurgency gains in the North East.”