Dozens of emaciated-looking Boko Haram members begging for food have surrendered in northeast Nigeria, AP reported quoting the military and a civilian self-defense fighter as saying.
Seventy-six people including children and women gave themselves up to soldiers last Saturday in Gwoza, about 60 miles southeast of Maiduguri, according to a senior officer.
All are being detained at military headquarters in Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram and currently the command center of the war against the militant group, according to the officer who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to journalists.
The detainees said many more fighters want to surrender, a self-defense civilian fighter who helped escort them to Maiduguri said.
Food shortages could indicate that Nigeria's military is succeeding in choking supply routes of the terror group fighters who have taken their fight across Nigeria's borders.
The group's six-year insurgency has killed some 20,000 people and driven more than two million people from their homes.
Boko Haram was declared the deadliest of all terror groups in 2014, surpassing the ISIS to which it declared allegiance last year.
Nigeria's military reported that dozens of Boko Haram fighters were surrendering in September and October last year. It promised those who give themselves up voluntarily that they will be rehabilitated through a de-radicalization program.
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source : AP
Friday
4 March 2016
11:09:20 AM
738745
Dozens of emaciated-looking Boko Haram members begging for food have surrendered in northeast Nigeria, AP reported quoting the military and a civilian self-defense fighter as saying.