... Surrender and be treated as POWs – Army
The Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, yesterday urged Boko Haram militants to surrender and be useful to their families and the country, saying those who surrender would be treated as Prisoners of War (POWs) and protected in accordance with United Nations rules of engagement.
Addressing defence correspondents in Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, Col. Abubakar said a committee known as ‘Safe Corridor’, had been set up by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Olonishakin, to handle cases of Boko Haram members who surrender.
According to him, members of the committee have been briefed adequately on the process. He urged the militants to surrender so that there can be peace in the North East and Nigeria to encourage investors into the country.
‘’There is a clear policy directive that anyone who surrenders should be treated as a Prisoner of War. His dignity, integrity and human rights must be seen protected. So far, so good, this is being realised. A lot of them are surrendering and as soon as we finish with their cases, I believe their identities will be made known. We are doing this for security reasons but once we finish with them, I believe the relevant authorities that they will be handed over to will make their identities known to all Nigerians’’, he said.
Abubakar said the military was doing everything possible to end the war within President Muhammadu Buhari’s deadline, urging citizens to report any incident noticed to be perpetrated by the group.