‘Army to reintegrate repented terrorists’

45 more surrender in Borno

The Nigerian army high command has said it will receive and process surrendered terrorists before handing them over to relevant government agencies.

Army spokesman, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, stated this on the backdrop of reports that it rehabilitated and set free two terrorists’ bomb experts.

“Our attention has been drawn to a publication by some online news medium released in which the authors deliberately misrepresented the facts contained in that report and twisted it to suit whatever purpose they seek to achieve.

“While the Nigerian Army (NA) does not want to be distracted from its main focus of dealing decisively with the threats against peace-loving Nigerians, it has become necessary to put issues in their right perspectives. It is a fact that in the recent past, over 1,000 members of Boko Haram and their families surrendered to the troops due to the intense pressure from troops’ sustained offensive. Among those were key leaders of the terrorists group who have renounced their membership and have turned themselves in.,” he said.

According to him, the army, being a professional military organisation, will continue to act in accordance with the dictates of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as international best practices.

“As such, it is absolutely wrong to say that the NA will free repentant terrorists. It, therefore, appealed to the public to disregard the deliberate distortion of facts by these online media and continue to support the NA to rid the country of terrorism and other forms of insecurity,” he added.

MEANWHILE, no fewer than 45 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have, again, surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East.

The terrorists renounced their membership to the two terror groups on Monday in Konduga Local Council of Borno State. A military intelligence source disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri: “The repentant terrorists renounced their membership yesterday at Konduga, the headquarters of Konduga Local Council. Thereafter, they turned in themselves to the Battalion commanders and troops of OPHK.

“Those former members of the terror groups, however, did not surrender themselves together with their rifles and ammunition.”