The theatre commander of “Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK),” Maj-Gen Chris Musa said about 83,000 Boko Haram members have surrendered and are in the custody of the military.
Musa stated this when he visited Governor Mai Mala Buni as part of a tour of command and formations under his control.
The theatre commander who described the operations of the command as a success said over half of the 83, 000 were children which if they had not surrendered could be fighters too.
He said, “God has been very magnanimous for us, we have received a lot of surrendered individuals. We are moving almost 83, 000 now, out of that number, over 41, 000 are children.
“The terrorists are trying to develop new set of terrorists, their own children and that would have been very dangerous because you know normally for children when they grow up and whatever they see is what they copy.
“So, if they grow and think killing is natural, they become very dangerous,” Gen Musa disclosed.
The theatre commander who commended the chief of army staff for his support to them assured the governor that they will do all that is necessary towards ensuring peace in the northeast.
“Whatever it takes, whatever it needs for us to have peace, we are determined to achieve that. The chief of army staff has been very, very supportive in all we are doing and that has made our work much, much easier,” he added.
Governor Buni while speaking, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, and the army among other security agencies for efforts and sacrifices towards restoring peace in the state and the country as a whole.
Buni who reassured the readiness of his administration towards supporting security agencies said, “To us, security is number one, that is it. Security, security, security before any other thing because without security there wouldn’t be education, no agriculture, no commerce, no nothing.”