The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said 13,243 terrorists and their families have so far surrendered to troops in the North East.
Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, acting Director, Defence Media Activities, stated this while providing an update on military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Onyeuko, the surrendered terrorists comprise 3,243 males, 3,868 females and 6,234 children.
According to Onyeuko, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai maintained an offensive posture with energy in the North East, yielding substantial results in the previous two weeks.
He said that a series of ground and air operations undertaken in several places across the North East theatre had decreased the rebels’ operational capabilities, with some of them being neutralized.
According to Onyeuko, numerous more were apprehended with their informants and logistical suppliers, as additional terrorists proceeded to lay down their guns and surrender to the soldiers alongside their families.
“Some of these feats were recorded at Gwoza – Yamtake – Bita road, Gwoza – Farm Centre – Yamtake road, Mandara Mountain area as well as Pulka and Hambagda towns, all in Borno State.
“Cumulatively, within the period, a total of 29 terrorists were neutralised and 13 terrorists including their informants/collaborators and logistics suppliers were arrested in the course of the operations.
“Additionally, a total of 38 assorted weapons and 968 rounds of assorted ammunition as well as 48 rustled livestock among several other items were recovered.
“So far, a total of 13,243 terrorists and their families comprising 3,243 males, 3,868 females and 6,234 children, have surrendered to troops at different locations in the North East,” NAN quoted him as saying.
Onyeuko went on to say that the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction operations to prevent Boko Haram terrorists/ISWAP criminal elements from attacking ground forces in Aulari village in the Bama region of Borno.
He said that the engagement resulted in the destruction of three terrorist gun trucks and the neutralization of dozens of their combatants, while numerous more fled in confusion with different degrees of injury.