The Nigerian Military says a major factional leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group has been ‘fatally injured’ in the ongoing onslaught against the insurgents in the North East.
This was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu.
According to the statement, the feat was made by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the ongoing artillery and aerial bombardments of Boko Haram enclaves in the Lake Chad region.
“Currently an evaluation report of the ongoing operation indicates that a major factional leader of the terrorist group, Mamman Nur, has been fatally injured in the bombardment as he and his sub-commanders fled from the onslaught.
“Several of his foot soldiers have also been killed by troops, while many of the insurgents who escaped are now surrendering to Republic of Niger Defence Forces, following the Amnesty granted the insurgents by the Government of Niger Republic,” the military said.
The military’s spokesman also claimed while one of Nur’s wives has was killed in the battle, stressing that about 250-foot soldiers from the Albarnawy camp have surrendered to Nigerien Authorities due to the devastating artillery and aerial bombardments by Operation Lafiya Dole troops.
Nwachukwu added that many of the insurgents who fled the onslaught were taking advantage of the “amnesty” offered by the Nigerien government if they surrendered to the Nigerien Forces.
Among the insurgents fleeing from the ongoing offensive were senior and junior commanders in the Albarnawy faction, attempting to melt into other communities in and around Kano, Geidam and Gashua axis unnoticed.
Members of the general public, particularly in Kano, Geidam, Gashua, Hadeja and the northern part of Jigawa are to be vigilant and watch out for strange faces suddenly appearing in their communities.
In doing this, however, they are to promptly report one of such fleeing commanders, Bana Bafui to the security agencies.
Meanwhile, about 700 insurgents have surrendered to troops in the general area of Monguno following troops’ clearance operations. The ongoing onslaught will be tenaciously sustained.
“Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria has since provided a window of opportunity through the Operation Safe Corridor program to insurgents who surrender willingly to be deradicalized and rehabilitated. About 300 insurgents who willingly surrendered are currently benefiting from this programme.
“We call on all Boko Haram insurgents to abandon the futile struggle and take advantage of the Safe Corridor program by surrendering willingly to troops in any location nearest to them. We guarantee their safety and incorporation into the programme for deradicalization and rehabilitation,” he said.
The statement comes one day after the troops deployed in Pulka rescued one of the Chibok girls abducted by the terrorist group in April 2014.
A statement issued by the Theatre Command on Thursday had said the young girl identified as Salomi Pagu was the same as the Chibok girl published on serial 86 of the online list of abducted Chibok girls.
She was said to have been intercepted by troops in the company of another young girl, Jamila Adams, about 14 years old with a child.
The military had said Pagu and the two others were in the safe custody of the troops.
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