Speaking to journalists on Thursday, commander of the troops in the north-east, Major General Attahiru Ibrahim, said that the terrorists carried out 97 suicide and vehicle borne attacks between March and June this year.
According to him, the troops had also rescued 1,018 civilians held in various, while a total of 1018 Boko Haram suspects were arrested during the period reviewed.
He disclosed that only 67 Boko Haram suspects had so far voluntarily surrendered to troops, and 700 Boko Haram fighters indicated their intention to surrender.
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In the report first by Premium Times, the Theatre commander further mentioned that more villages and settlement are still being cleared within the Sambisa forest under the ongoing military special operation code named ‘Deep Punch’.
“We need to appreciate the fact that Sambisa forest is about 60,000 square kilometres which spans the borders of Borno, Yobe up to fringes of Adamawa states”,
The commander dispelled concerns that Boko Haram attacks had escalated in the last six weeks.
According to him, “what happened was not an increase in attack, but it was a case of Boko Haram using technical asymmetric tactics to achieve their strategic low level aims by attacking isolated locations like the university (of Maiduguri) or the Jiddari Polo area.”
He further called on Boko Haram fighters in the jungle to lay down their arms as he assured them of their safety should they surrender.