Boko Haram Surgeon, Female Commander & 2 Leaders Surrender, Ask Nigerians For Forgiveness

Boko Haram Doctor, Female Commander & 2 Leaders Surrender, Ask Nigerians For Forgiveness

Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Commander Major General Rogers Nicholas today said two top Boko Haram commanders and the insurgents doctor have finally surrendered to the Army.

He revealed this while presenting the repentant terrorists in Maiduguri today.

Nicholas said a female commander of the sect and 3 children also surrendered at Bama LGA of Borno state.

He added that the Nigerian Army initiated contact with the terrorists and encouraged them to surrender.

His words:

“we had a contact group and two insurgents’ commanders, a local doctor and their women leader and their children surrendered to the troops.

“We gave them clothes, food and medication and assured them of safety: we are not killing anybody.

“Our duty is to protect lives and property, we call on the insurgents in the bush to come out, surrender and join the peace building process.”

In their submission, Ali Musa, the insurgents’ physician, said he conducted surgical operations such as bullet extraction, appendix, treatment of wounded insurgents, ante natal and post-natal services in the camp.

Ali said he was indoctrinated and misled by the sect leaders, adding that the sect activities had damaged his life.

Umar Ibrahim, one of the insurgents’ commanders, said he surrendered voluntarily as he became fed up with the group’s inhuman activities.

Ibrahim disclosed that hundreds of insurgents were willing to surrender to the troops but their leaders prevented them from doing so.

“We were told that the army will kill us and feed on our flesh when we surrender.

“The sect’s leaders also planted landmines to stop us from coming to the troops.

“Many insurgents are willing to surrender in view of the fact that we are against the destructive ideologies propagated by the sect.

“We hardly feed, people are starving due to the lack of food in the camp.

“We want peace and we want to join in building peace in our country, we ask Nigerians to forgive us.”

Ibrahim called on other insurgents to surrender and commended the military for taking care of them.

Major General Nicholas said the surrendered insurgents would be engaged in deradicalisation, rehabilitation and skill acquisition training programme for possible integration into the society. [NAN]