The Defence Headquarters has said that a notable commander of Boko Haram terrorists, Saleh Mustapha, alongside 51,114 other terrorists, has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in the North-East.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko, stated this in Abuja on Thursday while addressing newsmen on the operations of the military between March 25 and April 7.
Onyeuko said that the surrender of Mustapha, popularly known as Inn Kathir, to troops in Bama, was significant.
He noted that a total of 51,114 terrorists and families comprising 11,398 men, 15,381 women, and 24,335 children had so far surrendered to troops as of April 5.
According to him, all surrendered terrorists have been documented, while the arrested, rescued civilians, and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
He said that, in the last two weeks, troops recovered one battle tank, five artillery guns, two GTS, and three AA guns.
Others included one Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, three gun trucks, One MOWAG Armored Personnel Carrier, and two RPG tubes.
“Other items recovered include three RPG rockets, three RPG bombs, one NSVT gun, two GPMG, one light MG, one PKM, three GPMG belts, and four belts of PKT rounds.
“Also recovered, are 600 7.62mm NATO rounds, 16 AK 47 rifles, one Dane gun, 270 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Toyota Buffalo vehicle, one Golf saloon car, four motorcycles, six magazines, two pairs of camouflage, two terrorist flags, one tricycle, and one active drone,” he said.
Onyeuko said that the troops also neutralised scores of terrorists while 22 terrorist spies, 11 terrorists, and three logistics suppliers were arrested, with 30 civilians rescued during the period.
He said that the air component conducted air interdictions which took out a heavy stockpile of weapons in the depots of the Islamic State West Africa Province between March 28 and March 31, at Bukar Meiram and 2 kilometres South of Kollaram.
“The land component with the support of the air component conducted offensive operations at different locations of the theatre such as Ukuba/Camp Zairo, Sabil Huda, Ba Masaa, Wulgo, Marta, fulatari village, Uraha Crossing Point, Mbalala, and Gamboru town, all in Borno.
“Notably, among the exploits of our troops was the capture of the terrorists’ stronghold by Ukba/Camp Zairo in the Sambisa Forest where some artillery guns, armored personnel carriers, trailers, and a large cache of arms and ammunition were captured.
“Troops also destroyed terrorist enclaves, captured some terrorists, destroyed terrorists improvised explosive making factory,” he added.
