By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Defence Headquarters has announced that a top commander of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation has surrendered.
According to a media briefing by the coordinator, Defence media operations, Major General John Enenche, the unnamed commander handed himself over to the Nigerian Army along with four of his wives.
The Nigerian government has been running an amnesty programme for repentant Boko Haram members who if they agree to drop their arms, would get a reprieve for their crimes.
At least 602 of the terrorists who claimed to have repented were graduated in July and ask to go back to their communities.
But a senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, said some of the ‘repentant terrorists’ have returned to their old ways. He said one of them even killed his father and made away with the cow belonging to the man.
But Enenche said the success of the military operation in the North East was what led to the surrender of the terrorist.
He said during the clearance operation, cache of arms and ammunition as well as equipment and motorcycles were also recovered from the terrorists.
“Meanwhile, troops repelled BHT/ISWAP attacks on civilians and own troops at Wajiroko in Damboa LGA of Borno on Sept. 17 and Sept. 20.
“The troops neutralised several of the terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition,” he said.
The coordinator of the media for the defence headquarters also said the military recorded successes in the North West.
The military is currently prosecuting two operations in termed Hadarin Daji and Sahel Sanity in the North West.
He said the military has dominated the general area leading to killing of seven bandits and rescue of kidnapped victims during the week, including the rescue of eight kidnapped victims from suspected bandits at Fankama and Sabon Layi area of Faskari LGA of Katsina State.
Enenche said the troops got information that bandits dressed in military camouflage were sighted with kidnapped victims and engaged the bandits forcing them to abandon the victims.
According to Enenche, troops of Operation Sahel Sanity also rescued a truck driver with 11 women and children who were on their way to Batsari Market but were kidnapped by suspected bandits along Shimfida – Gurbi Road.
Enenche said troops at Dansadau arrested a suspected bandit on a motorcycle on his way to Dandalla village in Dansadau, Maru LGA of Zamfara with one Pump Action rifle and three live cartridges carefully concealed in a bag.
“Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike killed several bandits at their meeting venue in air strikes executed at Kwaimbana forest area of Kaduna State.
“Also, two gunrunners were arrested in possession of 1,620 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in Kudaru Hill along Kaduna-Jos Road in Lere LGA of Kaduna State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition was to be delivered to one bandit leader, at a location in Dansadau LGA of Zamfara.
Equally, on Sept. 18, troops of Forward Operations Base Burukusuma patrol team killed seven armed bandits at Magira village of Zamfara.
“On Sept. 19, troops, in conjunction with vigilantes arrested two bandits in possession of N1.3 million at Baworaje village in Talata Mafara LGA of Zamfara,” he said.
Enenche said in the North Central, Troops of Operation Safe Haven between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20, raided suspected Sara-Suka criminals’ hideouts at Jenta Adamu, Rikkos, and Gangare Yan-Doya area of Jos North LGA of Plateau.
He said the raids led to arrest of 14 suspects while 12 knives, 4 daggers, 4 mobile phones, two swords, assorted charms, a large quantity of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, among other illicit drugs were recovered.
Enenche said the troops also rounded up a suspected drug peddlers’ hideout within Barkin Ladi LGA where a drug dealer was arrested with a large quantity of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
According to him, all the arrested suspects and recovered exhibits have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.
