The Nation Newspaper

Tag: surrender

  • Father to Boko Haram commander son: surrender

    EIGHTY-YEAR-OLD Malam Baba Modu has called on his Boko Haram commander son to surrender his membership of the terrorist group and embrace peace.

    Modu, popularly called ‘Ba-Ana’, made the call yesterday in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

    The father of the Boko Haram commander said that he was unable to persuade his son to abandon the cause and surrender under the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor.

    Recounting his ordeal, the octogenarian said his son was conscripted by the insurgents in 2012 at a farm in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno.

    He said: “I lost hope of meeting my son after his abduction in the past seven years. One day, I met someone who told me that my son was alive and mentioned where I can find him.

    “I was also told he is one of the commanders of the Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram.

    “I travelled to the shores of the Lake Chad to plead with Ba-Ana to surrender and embrace peace. It took me about one week to get to where I met him.

    “When I arrived at the camp, I told them that I am the father of Ba’ana and after series of interrogations, they asked me to wait for him to return from a mission.

    “Ba-Ana returned at night, he was marveled to see me, and when he heard my voice; he told his men that I am his father.

    “I pleaded with him for about 30 days in a bid to convince him to lay down his arms and embrace peace, regrettably he did not heed my counsel.

    “Ba-Ana confessed that he killed many people and believed that the authorities would not forgive his crimes. He also believed that he had committed his life in the course of God.

    “I did not lose hope; I will continue to pray God to heal his soul and bring him back to me.”

  • 146 Boko Haram members surrender to troops in Borno

    ONE hundred and forty-six suspected Boko Haram members have willingly given up their arms and surrendered to troops.

    Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Maj-Gen. Roger Nicholas gave the figure at a news conference while parading 17 suspects, who renounced their membership of Boko Haram at the military command in Maiduguri.

    Maj-Gen. Rogers said: “Seventy of them had surrendered in Munguno, 60 in Bama and this set of 17 just willingly surrendered to our troops.”

    He explained that Operation Safe Corridor has urged the insurgents to repent.

    The operation, the Theatre Commander noted, is yielding results as many of the insurgents are coming out from their fighting camps to surrender.

    He added that the army had established designated centres at various commands and formations, where the insurgents can surrender.

    He promised that they would be treated with respect.

    According to him, the 17 insurgents said they were no longer interested in staying in the bush as Boko Haram fighters but to come out and live a better life.

    He added that the repentant insurgents would be properly profiled, de-radicalised and re-integrated into the society.

    Some of the paraded Boko Haram insurgents, who spoke to reporters, said they were tired of the crimes they had committed fighting as Boko Haram insurgents.

    One of the suspects, Mustapha Umar, said:  “I’m a commander at the Lake area. My operation was mainly on the water. My regret was the number of persons I have killed and took their money. I have killed many people, but I am asking for forgiveness.”

     

  • Don Waney‘s gang members surrender

    Don Waney‘s gang members surrender

    DON Waney’s empire of crime keeps collapsing after his bloody end, which was ignited by the New Year’s Day killings in Omoku, Rivers State.

    Emenike Agamu (aka General Red Scorpion), who is said to be the fourth in-command in the Don Waney cult gang, yesterday surrendered his arms to security operatives in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Members of the group were declared wanted and its leader, John Igwedibe (aka Don Waney) was gunned down in Enugu by security agents.

    His younger brother was shot dead days later.

    It was later found out that the group had bases across the Southsouth and Southeast, including the Imo riverine community which borders Rivers State.

    Agamu, who is among the suspected cultists declared wanted by the Rivers State government, surrendered alongside other Don Waney boys who had earlier rejected the government’s amnesty offer.

    Red Scorpion confessed that the militant group killed many people and blew up many oil pipelines.

    The group submitted explosives, rocket launchers and high calibre rifles, such as AK47, among others.

    Receiving the repentant militants, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said  the development would  ensure lasting peace in the oil producing areas.

    He said: “It is very shocking to note that most of the activists of the Avengers and those of Don Waney operatives are our sons and daughters and their surrendering arms will end the security challenges we have in the Ohaji/Egbema, Awara and the rest of the areas where people have been on self-exile for many years.”

    He added: “Today, we are welcoming back our brothers and sisters who have remained in the creeks and forest for so many years, perpetuating all kinds of evil, killing and maiming human beings.

    “But today, glory to God, these our children have decided on their own to come back to the society and be part of the society.

    “They are doing so on their own, surrendering arms which they have used in committing criminal activities for what they called expression of grievances of different sorts.

    “We, as a government, are happy, particularly that these young boys and girls will now come back as good citizens of Imo State. We are here to receive them and listen to them. What they say today will determine the role of government in assisting them and making sure they become good citizens once more. It is the wish of the Niger Delta people to welcome you back as good citizens.”

    The governor recalled that three weeks ago, Don Waney was killed. Most of these boys are his colleagues and generals in the bush. Today, we are gladdened that the lives of these boys have not been left in the hands of the military and police who would have wasted them but today they are being reintegrated into our society to become good citizens,” he said, adding:

    ”We as a government that is sensitive to the plight of the people are here to intervene before the matter gets out of hand. Last year and last two years, we did a similar exercise and most of those youths are now doing well.”

    “We want to remove terror from Ohaji/Egbema. This is one of my campaign promises that I will change the lives of Ohaji/Egbema people. Terror is going out from the region. These are the children that drove away their traditional rulers, parents and brothers but today the story is different. We don’t want to hear the stories of Avengers and Don Waney again.

    “The state has forgiven them and will subsequently give their names to the Federal Government for amnesty.”

  • Theatre commander asks Boko Haram sect to surrender

    Theatre commander asks Boko Haram sect to surrender

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, has called on Boko Haram insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

    Gen. Nicholas spoke yesterday at his maiden media interactive session in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. He said the call was to encourage insurgents to surrender and guarantee lasting peace in the region.

    “We have determined and courageous soldiers to crush the terrorists and bring peace to the Northeast. I call on the insurgents to surrender to the government and embrace peace,” he said.

    The theatre commander urged the media to create more awareness on de-radicalisation of the sect’s ideology, promote peace building and social cohesion.

    He reiterated the military’s readiness to work with the media to ensure a successful campaign against insurgency.

    “The command will provide an enabling environment for the media to access information on our operations. You should ensure accurate, factual and balance reportage on the military operation,” he added.

    He, however, warned that the authorities won’t condone misrepresentation of facts and biased reportage.

    Gen. Nicholas, who said the command will come up with strategies to intensify campaigns against bombing and attacks by insurgents, called on the people to cooperate with the military to help them win the war against the terror group.

    He added that the war against insurgency is a collective responsibility.

    Outgoing commander Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru said the military had implemented various operations to get rid of insurgents and sustain the feat recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign.

    According to him, the insurgents are tactically defeated, and all territories liberated.

    His words: “In view of the success recorded by the military, the Boko Haram insurgents resorted to suicide bombing of soft targets,” he said.

    He added that about 100 insurgents, including five high profile commanders, were killed and 72 surrendered to the military in the last six months.

    The military reinforced its Mobile Strike Force to block the sect’s supply routes and enhance clearance operations, he added.

    Gen. Attahiru listed other achievements as conduct of polio immunisation exercise in non-accessible rural communities, and lifting of the ban on fisheries activities at Lake Chad Basin.

     

  • Army urges Ondo militants to surrender remaining weapons

    Army urges Ondo militants to surrender remaining weapons

    The 32 Artillery Brigade of Owena Barracks in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has urged the militants in the state’s creeks to submit the remaining arms in their possession.

    Through its Commander, Brig.-Gen. James Ataguba, the Army urged the agitators to use the opportunity given to them by the state and Federal governments to drop their weapons.

    Ataguba spoke during his visit to one of the arms collection centres at the Naval Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area.

    The commander and the Director of State Service (DSS), Mr A. Ajege, jointly inspected some of the weapons voluntarily surrendered by militants from Ajapa, Ogooluwayo, Igbokoda, Ugbo and Arogbo Ijaw communities.

    The militants from various camps dropped sophisticated weapons, like machine guns, AK-47 riffles, locally-made mortals, pump action guns, single and double-barrelled guns, Dane guns and thousands of ammunitions for riffles, cartridges and bombs.

    Ataguba also advised militants, who have not surrendered their weapons to embrace peace.

    The commander warned that any person or group of persons caught with weapons or found to have committed an act of militancy would be dealt with by security agencies after the expiration of the Amnesty programme.

    He enjoined traditional rulers, religion leaders, youth leaders and political leaders to educate their youths on the need to embrace the Amnesty programme to engender a peaceful environment across the state.

    Ataguba also urged the public to share genuine information on any person or group of persons who may still be keeping weapons or involved in militancy.

    The military officer warned that any information must be true, as false tip-off and witch-hunting would not be entertained.

  • Boko Haram commanders surrender

    •Police rescue 13 abducted victims

    Borno State Police Command has rescued 13 abducted victims from insurgents.

    It received Boko Haram commanders, who surrendered and renounced membership of the sect.

    Spokesman Isuku Victor said in a statement that the command’s striking unit responded to a distress call of abduction from Biu Area Command, with investigators, undercover operatives and local hunters, which led to the rescue of the victims, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered.

    The statement reads: “On August 19, the Area Commander, Biu, reported a case of abduction of six children (four boys and two girls). The command’s striking unit (SARS) and a team of investigators were despatched to the area. The deployment and use of undercover operatives led to the arrest of five persons, who confessed and revealed where the children were kept.

    “On September 8, through community policing partnership and networking, the command with local hunters and vigilance group members attacked the hoodlums in a forest near Kumaya village, Buni Yadi, Yobe State.”

    It added: “Two of the hoodlums died following injuries sustained in the gun battle. Two AK47 rifles used by the hoodlums were recovered.

    The six abducted victims were rescued.

    Seven other kidnapped persons were rescued, bringing the number of persons rescued to 13. Two members of the search party were injured during exchange of fire.  They are responding to treatment.”

    Isuku said the 13 victims were handed over to “Borno State Deputy Governor Mamman Durkwa today (yesterday) at the Government House, Maiduguri.”

    Speaking on the repentant Boko Haram members, he said: “The counter-terrorism efforts of the military, code-named ‘Operation Safe Corridor’, recorded another victory with the unconditional surrender to the police by high profile repentant Boko Haram terrorists.

    “On September 10, about 2100hrs, the intelligence arm of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the command negotiated the surrender of repentant Boko Haram terrorists with their families.

    “Ibrahim Dala (alias Abu Ali), formerly of Kawar Mela ward, Maiduguri, an amir (commander) of Mamman Nur faction, with Audu Mustapha Bukar (‘m’), 20 years and Laminu Mustapha Modu (‘m’) 25 years, living at Talala insurgents camp at Sambisa forest, surrendered to the command.

    “Bukar and Modu, from Ngallamari village, claimed to have been held hostage by the sect sometime ago and were conscripted.”

    Isuku gave the names of the others who repented as: Alhaji Ali, ‘m’, 25 years, of Alagarno village; Abubakar Mele, ‘m’, 30 years, of Yasko village; Modu Umar, ‘m’, 20 years, of Bursum village; Modu Maina, ‘m’, 15 years, of Bursum village; Ali Kolo, ‘m’, 20 years, of Alagarno village; Bintu Abukar, ‘f’, 14 years, of Yasko village; Falmata Abukar, ‘f’, 15 years, of Yasko village; Hauwa Ali, ‘f’, 15 years, of Alagarno village; Husam Ali, ‘f’, 14 years of Alagarno village  and Mallam Modu, ‘f’, 16 years, of Bursum village.

    Isuku said five children aged between one and eight were rescued.

    He added: “They have made statements that will assist in the counter-insurgency campaign of the military. They are undergoing preliminary profiling, preparatory to transfer to the military.”

  • Boko Haram chief, three others surrender

    A Boko Haram terrorist, Konto Fanami, and three other repentant insurgents have surrendered.

    Army Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman stated this in a statement yesterday.

    Usman said the repentant insurgents deserted their hideouts and willingly surrendered to 120 Task Force Battalion at Goniri, Borno State.

    He described Fanami as the leader of the “Kafa hideout of the group, which operates on the Ajigin-Talala-Mungusum axis”.

    “During preliminary interrogation, they said they abandoned terrorism because of incessant hardship and the realisation that they were misled by their leaders.

    “They said they were also erroneously misinformed and brainwashed about Islam, the Nigerian military and the society generally.

    “The remorseful terrorists regretted their involvement in terrorism and marvelled at the courtesy and humane treatment accorded them by the military after surrendering,” Usman said.

    He called on other insurgents to follow suit and renounce the “devilish creed”, saying there are plans to receive everyone who voluntarily renounces terrorism.

  • Hamburger’s suspected killers surrender

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni yesterday disclosed that two suspected killers of Chairman, Tricyclist Association, Rasak Bello alias Hamburger were currently in police custody and would be charged to court.

    Samson Agbetoye alias Golden and Babatunde Saka “Hanger” were said to have surrendered temselves to the police on June 20.

    He recalled that the police had promised to ensure justice prevailed in the case of the murder, noting that they were not unaware of the allegations and counter allegations Hamburger’s murder generated.

    “When the incident occurred, the command indicated that it would not be swept under the carpet. Investigation has been on since then and pursued with all sense of seriousness. The principal suspect, Samson Agbetoye alias Golden and one Babatunde Saka have been in our custody. They have volunteered useful statement to the police and will soon be arraigned in court for prosecution.”

  • ‘We won’t surrender leadership’

    ‘We won’t surrender leadership’

    Plateau United Manager, Kennedy Boboye is confident they will sustain the run of good form to clinch their first ever league title.

    “I know many are not expecting us to remain there (on top) but all I will say is ‘we will see’. I don’t make predictions. I don’t brag. All I will say is ‘keep watching.

    “I am not focusing on what other teams are doing but working to perfect our game”, he said.

    “While we were on break, I knew every other team would be fortifying their squad towards a better performance in the second stanza, but that is not supposed to be my focus.

    “My concern is Plateau United and I don’t like to think about what others are doing. If they are focusing on me, that is their business”, the former Abia Warriors coach told www.npfl.ng.

    Unlike some other managers in the NPFL, Boboye’s recruitment approach does not encourage making wholesome changes to a squad in mid-season and he said he has always been wary of altering team spirit with mid-season recruitments.

    His words:“I brought in only two players from outside, Stanley Okoro and Bature Yaro. Others were players who were originally with the team but were out on loan. So they were more or less, members of the team. I did this because I didn’t want to have problems of blending the old and new during this time of the season.”

  • Boko Haram insurgents surrender in Chad

    Boko Haram insurgents surrender in Chad

    Two hundred and forty ex-Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) ground troops in Sector 2 Area of Responsibility (AoR), Bagasola, Chad.

    Their surrender followed intense ground and air assaults by troops of Operation Gama Aiki, which blocked terrorists’ logistics and supply routes.

    From the latest surrender, the number has risen to 464. The former terrorists are being profiled and camped in Bagasola.

    MNJTF Commander Major General Lamidi Adeosun, who received the ex-ighters at Sector 2, lauded them for their courage to abandon terrorism.

    General Adeosun was accompanied by Coordinator/Chief of Staff of the Chadian Ground Forces and Red Barrettes Major General Ismael Hour; MNJTF’s Deputy Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Muhammad Djour; and Senior Prefect of Bagasola.

    Gen. Adeosun assured the repentant terrorists of their safety and care in the camp.

    He urged them to encourage their colleagues to stop fighting and surrender.

    Adeosun said: “This peaceful disarming and profiling of former terrorists by MNJTF forces demonstrates the extent of professionalism and adherence to International Humanitarian Laws and Laws of Armed Conflict in combat operations.”

    According to Chief Military Public Information Officer Col. Muhammadu Dole,  Gen. Adeosun donated cash and 10 bags of foodstuffs for  their welfare.

    The ex-terrorists are expected to receive training in skills and small businesses from government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations.

    Gen. Adeosun also gave cash to representatives of officers and soldiers killed in Action (KIA) and Wounded in Action (WIA) during Operation Gama Aiki.

    The MNJTF headquarters gave one million CFA to each KIA family, and 500,000 CFA to each WIA officer.