1,240 Boko Haram Suspects in Custody

Nigeria Army said it had arrested about 1,240 suspected Boko Haram terrorists during a mop-up operation by troops inside the Sambisa forest. Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this while giving update to newsmen on Operation Rescue Final at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. Irabor said that 413 of the suspects were adults; 323 were female adults; 251 male children, while 253 were female children. He said that the suspects were apprehended during a mop-up operation against the sect members in the forest. “We are interrogating them to know whether they are Boko Haram members, because there is no way somebody that is not their member would live inside Sambisa forest. “We are still on the trail of the terrorists and I want to assure you that all escape routes have been blocked. “Within this period, also, about 30 fleeing suspected Boko Haram members have surrendered to the Niger Multinational Troops on the shores of the Lake Chad and we learnt that they were taken to Difa in the Niger Republic. “The suspects include 24 males and six females. “We would like to use this opportunity to encourage the terrorists to give up the fight because the window is still open,” the commander said. Also, the Army disclosed that it had recovered Abubakar Shekau’s Qur’an and flag in Camp Zero, Boko Haram’s Headquarters in Sambisa forest. “We believe that the Holy Book and the flag were abandoned by Abubakar Shekau while he escaped. “The book will be taken to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, for onward presentation to Mr. President. “We have also made a lot of arrests. Our troops in Damboa arrested about 15 Boko Haram members. We also arrested one Musa from Potiskum on Christmas day, which was December 25. “On December 26 our troops also intercepted two Boko Haram suspects in Maiduguri. We, therefore, warn residents of the state to be wary of people coming to hide in and around their houses. “We are also warning residents to report any suspected Boko Haram member hiding in their houses to the relevant security agencies and any failure to do that would be tantamount to supporting and sympathising with the sect’s activities,’’ Irabor said. Meanwhile, Niger’s Interior Minister yesterday said dozens of Boko Haram fighters have given themselves up to authorities in southern Niger, days after the Islamist group suffered key losses over the border in Nigeria. Minister Mohamed Bazoum said that 31 young people from Diffa, who were enrolled a few years ago in Boko Haram, decided to surrender. The fighters arrived in the remote desert town of Diffa in groups and were being held by local authorities. “I learnt that the first who surrendered were not arrested, and I surrendered. We expect a pardon from the government so that we can participate in the development of the country and help us get rid of the trauma,” a former Boko Haram combatant told newsmen. In June, tens of thousands of people fled Diffa as Boko Haram swept the region. However, five Niger soldiers were killed by the militants near Diffa in September. It was not clear what would become of the ex- Boko Haram fighters, but authorities said there was the possibility of reintegrating them back into society. A security source said a meeting was planned for yesterday in Diffa to discuss “the conditions of surrender,” without providing further details. Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced over two million during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state in Nigeria. In recent years, its attacks have spilled into neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters surrendered in Chad in October and November as the group ceded territory.