47 Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists, Families Surrender To Troops

Forty-seven members of the deadly Boko Haram/Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have reportedly relinquished to troops in the Lake Chad and surrounding areas.

Members of the terrorist group had submitted to the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Naija News understands that Member countries of the MNJTF which was formed in 2015 include Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

Confirming the event, Chief of Military Public Information, MNJTF Col. Timothy Antigha, revealed in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, July 24 that the terrorists repented of belonging to the group even with their families.

According to him, their surrendering was not far from “recent power tussle in the sects’ top echelon, ethnicity and failure to actualise the establishment of a caliphate in the Sahel.”

Antigha again revealed that members of the terrorist group who participated in attacks on Banki, Fotokol, Gambarou Ngala, New Marte, Chikun Gudu among others had said they were frustrated with their inability to forge forward with the Jihad.

“They told us that we were being lied to and cheated by apostate governments, but I have not seen any difference between Shekau and those he has been condemning. I am having it a lot better here because since we came out of the bush, we have been fed and catered for,” Antigha revealed.

He further disclosed that one of the fighters claimed he was misled to murder innocent lives, now conscious that he might face physical and spiritual condemnation thereafter.

“If you do not speak a particular language, you can not be appointed a commander or made a guard in the bush. You can not go for tax collection. This discriminatory attitude made some of us feel we are not trusted and good enough to be given responsibilities,” said the ex-terrorist.

According to a confession by a female member of the deadly sect, there was severe abuse of women in the camps.

She said, “Those people are ungodly, so they can not tell the world that they are doing the will of Allah,”

Reacting to the development, Antigha said the Force has been vindicated of its efforts by the testimonies from the repented sect members He, however, urged other fighters to follow suit by submitting themselves to the troops.

He added, “MNJTF Troop Contributing Countries have structures and programmes in place to receive all those who surrender. The MNJTF urges communities to accept repented terrorists back after their rehabilitation, even though some of them had perpetrated heinous crimes.”

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare Fulani herdsmen as terrorists.