A Boko Haram commander, Adamu Muhammad has surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) following the counterterrorism effort under the Operation of Lake Sanity II in Borno State.
The Chief Military Public Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Abubakar Abdullahi disclosed this on Friday, noting that five other fighters had surrendered to the MNJTF.
The development which occurred on May 23, witnessed Adamu handing over 11 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one warhead of anti-aircraft rounds to the MNJTF.
Adamu, 22, before renouncing his status quo, participated in numerous terrorist attacks and roamed around Kangarwa, Alagarno, Doro Naira, and Dogon Chikwu in Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria.
Other surrendered fighters include Isah Ali, 18, Hassan Modu, 18, Nasir Idris, 23, escort for the Commander of Jubillaram Usman Rash; Abba Aji, 21 and Abubakar Isah, 20.
“The surrendered fighters are currently undergoing investigation,” the Army said.
The recent event brings the total number of terrorists who have surrendered since the commencement of Operation Lake Sanity ll on 23 April to 119.
“The MNJTF appeals to other terrorists to follow suit, lay down their arms, and embrace peace. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring a secure environment in the Lake Chad Basin region,” it said.
The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru while speaking at the Ministerial Sectorial on Thursday, vowed to “fight hard” terrorists refusing to surrender to the military.
Badaru noted that in the past year, no fewer than 100,000 terrorists surrendered to troops.
He said the military had killed 9,300 bandits and insurgents, arrested about 7,000, rescued 4,641 kidnapped victims and recovered 4,882 weapons and 83,900 assorted ammunition in also one year.