*says 3 additional Chibok schoolgirls rescued
*says communities are unsung heroes
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Theatre Commander, North East Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Gwabi Musa has disclosed that about 79,000 Repentant Boko Haram insurgents comprising of both combatant and non-combatant have so far surrendered to the Nigerian military in recent times.
Musa made this known in Maiduguri while briefing newsmen on recent successes of the theater command headquarters noted that it was as a result of the sustained onslaught on the Boko Haram insurgents using both the kinetic and non kinetic strategic approaches adopted recently by the military.
He added that the successes were informed by the collective efforts of the military and the general public intelligence, cooperation and commitment to permanent restore peace in the region.
General Musa however, commended the cooperation and support of the communities and other authorities in the region, while describing them as “unsung heroes”.
He also urged them to continue to maintain the tempo to bring an end to the insurgency while disclosing that there are plans to create additional camps in Maiduguri to accommodate the increasing number if the repentant Boko Haram Insurgents that are under custody of the military undergoing screening, deradicalization and rehabilitation before being reintegrated into the society to reunite with their families and relations.
He said, “We are committed to the human rights charter and the rules of engagement in our operations.
“We are really happy with the way the members of the public are cooperating with us. They must have seen the sincerity in what we are doing. That is why they cooperate and support us. They should sustain the tempo and we shall never relent in our efforts and determination to end the war,” Musa said.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Maj. Gen. Wahidi Shaibu, revealed that in the period under review, three additional Chibok schoolgirls were also rescued from the captivity of the Boko Haram Insurgents.
The GOC maintained that the schoolgirls rescued include Falmata Lawan, Asabe Ali and Jinkal Yama, who are serial number 3, 12 and 20, respectively on the list of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
According to him, the Chibok schoolgirls were rescued separately within the Bama operational axis on August 30, September 1 and 2 respectively.