The Nigerian Army has raised an alarm over the commencement of massive recruitment by the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, a terrorist group.
Brig. Gen. Onyeama Nwachukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, disclosed at the headquarters of the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai Maimalari, during a tour in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday.
Nwachukwu wants members of the public to be on the lookout within their immediate environment, adding that it was very important to engage media organizations to block ISWAP’s recruitment.
The Army spokesperson also revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents have been surrendering.
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Nwachukwu said, “I will like to mention that the ISWAP, very recently, has been depleted by the surrendering of their members, as well as a conflict between them. They’ve embarked on what I will call a massive recruitment drive and I consider it very important to engage the media to block this recruitment.
“The Boko Haram insurgents have been surrendering. People have questioned the authenticity of the surrendering of these insurgents and why they’re surrendering at this time.
“There are also the questions on the reintegration of these insurgents. Another question is what the plight of the victims of the insurgency is.
“That is the essence of this tour. The military is not resting on its oars in the fight to end insurgency and insecurity in the country,” Nwachukwu said.
He added that the fight against insurgency had recorded success.
“At some point, the insurgents almost took over the three state capitals of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the North-East. Some three years back, Boko Haram was advancing towards the Federal Capital Territory. Today they have been boxed into the Timbuks,” the Army spokesperson noted.
On his part, the theatre Commander, Theater Command, Operations Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa said the military was doing all within the international laws in handling the Boko Haram issue.
He said the military has no power to prosecute the insurgents but to profile and investigate before handing them over to the necessary authorities.
