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• As Borno resumes biometrics capture for 6,900 insurgents
From Molly Kilete, (Abuja) & Timothy Olanrewaju, (Maiduguri)
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has said four key Boko Haram commanders, 13 main fighters, and a total of 45 family members have laid down their arms and surrendered to troops of Sector 3 in Cross Kauwa and Baga of Kukawa LGA of Borno State.
This is coming as Borno State resumed biometrics capturing of surrendered Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants.
Military Public Information Officer in N’Djamena, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, said the surrendered terrorists and their family members did so following two days of intense offensive by troops in the fringes of Lake Chad.
He attributed the successes to the escalated kinetic and non-kinetic operations by the MNJTF and the dwindling logistic supply in Boko Haram hideouts.
According to Abdullahi, “over a span of two days, from 14 to 15 August 2023, four key Boko Haram commanders, 13 main fighters, and a total of 45 family members, laid down their arms and surrendered to troops of Sector 3 MNJTF in Cross Kauwa and Baga of Kukawa Local Government. Surrendered items included seven AK-47 Rifles, one FN Rifle (SLR), nearly 440 rounds of assorted calibre ammunition and other essential tools of insurgency.
He said: “On the inaugural day of the recent mass surrender, 14 August, 2023, two commanders, nine main fighters and 21 family members yielded to the relentless operations of troops stroked by the 19 Brigade in Cross Kauwa and 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga. They voluntarily surrendered six AK-47 rifles, one FN Rifle (SLR), 20 magazines (with two fully loaded), 12 rounds of 5.6 millimeter ammunition, two hand grenades, three Bandoliers, and 180 rounds of 7.62 millimeter ammunition amongst numerous items.
“The tide of peaceful surrenders continued onto the following day, 15 August 2023, when two other commanders, four fighters and 24 family members responded to the call for peace. Surrendering at the 403 Amphibious Brigade location in Baga, they submitted two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, 99 rounds of 7.62 millimeter ammunition, two transistor radios, a cash sum of N213,800, and a variety of personal items.
“In response to this major breakthrough, the MNJTF has re-echoed an urgent call to all remaining Boko Haram insurgents, urging them to embrace peace and surrender as operations intensify. The MNJTF remains committed to fortifying the stability of the Lake Chad Basin region, emphasising that violence is not a viable course and that surrender provides the safest route towards peace and rehabilitation.”
Meanwhile, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, said at the weekend in Maiduguri that “officials of Borno State Government last Friday resumed the biometrics data capture of repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
He said in a statement that a total of 6,900 repentant insurgents were undergoing the biometric capturing exercise under the multi-agencies framework of Disarmament, Demobilisation, Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reintegration (DDDRRR) tagged the “Borno Model.”
He recalled that the exercise which started few months ago, was nearly stalled last Friday following the appearance of surrendered insurgents not scheduled for capturing for that day.
“Due to a breach in communication, those who were supposed to appear for the data capture on a later date appeared on Friday, August 18, 2023, and this led to confusion at the camp where the exercise was being conducted,” the commissioner explained.
He said the exercise was planned to be conducted in six batches by a certified team of intelligence and ICT experts but was nearly marred by confusion.
He assured the public that government had put the situation under control as the exercise continued.
More than 90,000 Boko Haram, ISWAP fighters and their families have surrendered to the Nigerian authorities since June 2020 according to Gov Babagana Zulum while speaking at an event during the 77th UN General Assembly in New York.
