Troops continue humiliating Boko Haram terrorists in Borno — Army

As part of its ongoing onslaught against terrorists threatening the nation, the Nigerian Army has again humiliated Boko Haram fighters in Borno State.

According to a military statement on Sunday, troops of Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai on routine patrol with elements of 19 Brigade Garrison to Gajiram Borno, annihilated several Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who laid an ambush on Ali Gambari Village.

Items recovered from the terrorists include three AK-47 rifles, ten 7.62mm special rounds of ammunition, one 36 Hand Grenade and one magazine carrier.

Assorted drugs and other personal items were also recovered from the terrorists.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya commended the troops for their gallantry, the statement added.

A wave of humiliations

The Nigerian Army has continued to intensify their fight against Boko Haram with troops in recent times smoking out terrorists from their enclaves and retaking lost grounds.

As evidence of the advancements being made, the military in its more recent communiques have shown members of the Boko Haram sect surrendering and begging that they be forgiven their crimes against the nation.

No blanket amnesty

While many have commended the army for the feat, some are worried about the fate of some of the now labelled ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members. There are also calls for amnesty and deradicalization of the repentant terrorists.

Following the damage caused by the terrorists, some Nigerians argue that more stringent measures must be meted out to the fighters who have surrendered and are pleading for forgiveness other than the pat on the back which seems to be the norm.

One of such Nigerians who believes more must be done beyond the proposed blanket amnesty is Senator Ali Ndume.

The lawmaker, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, maintains that seemingly penitent terrorists must first be profiled without rushing to have them return to their communities.

According to Senator Ndume, the army should be more focused on ensuring that the Boko Haram war ends even faster than it has been predicted in various quarters.

Ndume, in an interview with Channels Television, stated that as the war draws to a denouement, the nation must turn its attention to the resettlement of those displaced over time.

For him, it is after the citizens who bore the brunt of this conflict have been satisfactorily resettled, that the country can begin to talk about how to reintegrate those who have wreaked havoc on the nation and are now pleading for mercy.

Thousands have been killed in the Boko Haram war which has lasted for about 12 years, and millions displaced, leaving critics speculating that when Nigeria eventually wins the war, the victory will be pyrrhic.

(Channels TV)