The regime of President Muhammadu Buhari says more than 8,000 Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered from their enclaves in Sambisa forests and other hideouts.
This disclosure was made by the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Abdulwahab Eyitayo, on Tuesday, in Maiduguri.
Mr Eyitayo who is also the Commander, Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this during a visit by the Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu.
He explained that a sizable number of the surrendered, comprised wives and children of the terrorists, as well as those that were forcefully recruited into their folds.
Describing it as a welcome development, he said the terrorists who were surrendering, were doing so as a result of the overwhelming firepower of the troops.
“It is because every man’s endeavour is motivated by his family’s well being, that is why they are coming out with their families. We started seeing the signs from June.
“Our intensified operations had blocked their logistics’ routes and supplies, bombardments all over, that is why they started surrendering and diseases have overpowered many of them.
“It was better because in the end, the troops will clear all of them and their sympathisers combined,” Mr Eyitayo boasted.
The Buhari regime has continued to downplay the seriousness of the insurgency in the North-East, claiming numerous times that the war on terror was being won.
However, there are reports – even from within the regime – that the war is far from over.
Peoples Gazette reported how on September 16, Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a Nigerian Army convoy in Borno, killing at least 12 soldiers before carting away cash and weapons. NAN.