The Nigerian Army has said more than 56 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists surrendered.
In a statement, army spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the terrorists turned themselves in after suffering casualties as a result of bombardments of their camp by the troops.
The army had also announced earlier that some Boko Haram fighters and their families which comprised 19 male fighters, 19 adult females and 49 children surrendered due to unbearable conditions in their trenches.
The latest statement also disclosed that the army recovered arms and ammunition from the terrorists.
The statement in full:
OPERATION HADIN KAI: AGAIN MORE TERRORISTS SURRENDER AS TROOPS ESCALATE OPERATIONS ACROSS NE THEATRE
…Relinquish Arms and Ammunition
More Boko Haram (BHT)/ Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists are surrendering as troops of Operations HADIN KAI (OPHK), conducting Counter terrorism and counter Insurgency operations in north east Nigeria escalate ground and air offensive operations against the terrorists.
Sustained air and artillery bombardments on the enclaves of the terrorists in Sambisa forest and its environs have continued to yield positive results as 56 terrorists and their families laid down their arms abandoning the groups and their illicit course. Recently, the terrorists groups have suffered enormous set back and recorded several casualties as a result of ferocious offensives by gallant troops of OPHK.
Eighteen male fighters of the terrorists groups on Wednesday 4 August 2021, came out to surrender to own troops with their arms and ammunition, along with their families including 18 adult females and 19 children from Chingori and other surrounding villages around the Sambisa forest.
The arms recovered from the surrendered terrorists include, 5 AK 47 rifles, 1 foreign AK 47 rifle with telescopic sight, 1 Fabrique Nationale rifle, 8 AK 47 rifle magazines, 1 FN rifle magazine, 1 Bandolier, 3 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition and the sum of Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (#7,700.00) only.
Similarly, a Boko Haram fighter from Abuja Asamau Village in Sambisa Forest also surrendered to own troops of with his AK 47 rifle, 2 magazines, 1 Magazine holder, 1 round of 7.62mm special and the sum of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000:00)
It will be recalled that in less than 2 weeks, over 100 BHTs/ISWAP terrorists and their families have succumbed to ferocious offensive operations of Nigerian troops by laying down their arms and giving up the fight as their enclaves are being bombarded by the combined efforts of the Air component and ground troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya has lauded the troops for their effort and charged them to remain dedicated and committed in the fight, until the terrorists are completely decimated.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations
5 August 2021
