A cross section of the women and children handed over to their respective state governors.
Collins Agwam – Lafia
Nigerian Army has handed over families of dislodged Boko Haram terrorists to the Governors of their respective states.
Commander 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, Major General Moundhey Gadzama Ali, on Monday explained that the 778 women and children hails from 17 states of the country namely; Nasarawa, Yobe, Jigawa, Gombe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kwara, Bauchi, Kaduna, Borno, Adamawa, Katsina, Kogi, Sokoto, Kano, Niger and the FCT.
According to the Major General, “The sad threat to security informed the Chief of Army Staff to direct four Special Forces Command to conduct clearance operations to destroy the terrorist camps.
“The operation which was nicknamed Operation ‘NUT CRACKER’ is being conducted to clear Ugya Forest, Panda Forest, Uttu and contiguous hills in Nasarawa state. Other areas of interest include; Zagana, Makpa, Agbuchi and Barada in Kotun Karfe Local Government Area of Kogi state.
“The Boko Haram terrorists in North Central region over the years have been using these villages as camps to unleash mayhem on victims”.
The Dune reports that some deadly weapons were recovered by the Nigerian Army from the terrorist camps. They include; IED Charge, Rocket Propelled Bomb, Modified Rocket Propelled Bomb, Explosive Rammer Metal, Booby Trap Main Charge, Pressure Plate, Water Gel Explosive, G3 Magazine, among other weapons.
Major General Ali expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and other sister security agencies who have been supporting them in carrying out their duties in a bid to make Nigeria free from terrorists and bandits.
Commander Doru Jerry, Senior Special Adviser on Security who represented the Kogi state Governor said that, ” the success of the operation that was carried out last week which have resulted in the number of arrest is a good pointer to say that the armed forces of Nigeria and security agencies can still be looked upon to ensure success in our nation.
“The target of Daru Salam is to have a stronghold in the North Central. With the killings and kidnapping happening in the country, I wonder why we still refer to them as bandits. As far as we are concern in Kogi, we see them as terrorists and they remain terrorists.
“I plead with the armed forces to go out and clear the remnants and ensure they don’t come back again”, he said.
Also speaking, Niger state, Governor, represented by his deputy Ahmed Muhammed Ketso reiterated his administration commitment to the welfare of everyone domicile in the state and assured that the women and children of the dislodged terrorists would be rehabilitated and given good healthcare until they are fit to be reintegrated into the society.
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On his part, the Nasarawa state Governor Engr. Abdullahi Sule who was delighted with the achievements recorded by the military to get rid of criminal elements in state and urged them to continue to protect the lives and properties of the citizens to ensure speedy growth of the nation.
According to Governor Sule who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, ” I advise the fleeing terrorists to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Nigerian Army to surrender themselves in order to be reintegrated into the society for the sake of peace in the state and the country at large”.