Three Boko Haram Leaders, Others Surrender to Army Troops

As the ‘Operation Crackdown’ continues the routing of Boko Haram insurgents from their hideouts, three leaders of the sect, along with four others have surrendered to the troop in Borno State.

One of the statements issued in Abuja by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (Ag.DAPR), Col. Sani Usman disclosed that apart from the three leaders, Hamidu Buba, Musa Buba and Ali Idrissa, quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists have continued to surrender, adding that on Friday alone, seven individuals from Balazala and Ahamdaga Makaranta villages in the Dure district owned up to be members of Boko Haram sect.

The suspects added that they have participated in various attacks on many villages and towns. They further stated that the ongoing crackdown operation is really taking its toll on them as they can barely survive.

On another front, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion on Friday, intercepted 35 civilians, comprising six men, seven women, 22 minors ( seven males and 15 females), who claimed to be coming from Balaganje village. However, preliminary investigation revealed that they had been living in Balaganje as captives by Boko Haram terrorists who threatened to kill them if they attempted to escape. Investigation of the supposedly rescued hostages is ongoing so as to sieve and know if there are concealing their real identities.

Also in furtherance of ‘Operation Crackdown’, Troops of 26 and 223, Battalions, Army Headquarters’ Strike Group and Armed Forces Special Forces have continued offensive, clearing Boko Haram elements in Izza and Njima areas, where the insurgents had already fled the impending onslaught.

Leaving behind fresh footprints, motorcycle and bicycle tyre marks in the seemingly abandoned places. The Troops, however, came across and recovered eight abandoned vehicles belonging to Boko Haram terrorists.

“The advancing troops also cleared all Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts along the way, including their camps at Bula Buba and its environs, where they recovered one Hilux, one Canter truck, 15 AK47 rifle magazines, a 60mm High Explosive Bomb, 200 G3 rifle magazines, three Browning Machine Gun tripod stands and a 60mm mortar bipod stand. Others include several metal links of 7.62mm (NATO) and 12.mm ammunitions.”