From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Army has said in continuation of the ongoing intensive clearance operations across the theatre of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), more Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their families, who have hitherto hibernated around the fringes of Sambisa forest, have yielded to troops’ heavy artillery and air bombardments, surrendering to soldiers in Borno State.
The terrorists comprising 19 male fighters, 19 adult females and 49 children from Njimia Village and environs surrendered to troops at Forward Operational Base (FOB) Banki Junction/BOCOBS in Bama, Borno State on 2.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-General Onyema Nwachukwu, who made this known said the terrorists also surrendered several assorted weapons and incendiaries when they could no longer withstand the heavy artillery and air bombardments of troops.
The terrorists lamented that the ground and condition in the forest have become untenable, hence their surrendering.
Nwachukwu said:
‘The fire arms and incendiaries recovered from the terrorists include 8 AK-47 rifles, 1General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 2 Fabrique Nationale (FN) Rifles, 1 Dane Gun, 1Makarov Pistol, 89 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 89 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 66 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 5 x 9mm rounds of ammunition, 2 Hand Grenades, 27 AK 47 Rifle magazines and 2 FN Rifle magazines.
‘Others are 1 pistol magazine, 1 x 60mm Mortar Bomb, 10 x14.5mm empty cases, 2 primed suicide vests, 72 trigger switches, 10 primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), 5 Electric Detonating Chords, 6 packs of Water Gel Explosives, 6 Mobile Phones, 1 Camel Pack, 1 Cammoulage bag, 2 Hard drives, 1 Plier, 2 Unserviceable Handheld Radios, 2 Scissors, and needles, 2 Matchboxes and the sum of Fifty Five Thousand Naira (N55,000:00) only.
‘The terrorists and their families are currently undergoing comprehensive security profiling and preliminary investigations, while the children have been administered with oral polio vaccines.
‘The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has commended the troops for the sustained offensive and clearance operations conducted in the theatre. He charged them to maintain the momentum of the operations.’