The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General, Rogers Nicholas, who gave the information today, Friday in Maiduguri said that they all surrendered to the troops at Kumshe in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
He said the insurgents surrendered voluntarily following the Safe Corridor Scheme initiated by the Federal Government to encourage laying down of arms.
He said as a result of the scheme, many insurgents were willing to surrender and enjoy the opportunity by the government.
“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.”
The Theatre Commander said the terrorists who had surrendered would be deradicalised, rehabilitated and engaged in a skill acquisition training programme.
Umar Ibrahim, one of the commanders that surrendered spoke of the problems the others who had not yet surrendered were having.
According to him, their leaders were preventing them from coming out to surrender for fear of being killed by the troops.
“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.”
