Military to re-integrate repentant terrorists

Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has inaugurated a national committee to oversee the re-integration of repentant terrorists into society.

Deputy Director, Defence Information, Group Captain Maigida Wap, made this known yesterday in a statement on behalf of the Defence spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar.

Wap said the committee was set up in compliance to a Presidential directive to the Defence Headquarters to over-see the creation of a safe passage into main stream society for members of the Boko Haram terrorists group.

“Boko Haram members penciled for reintegration are those forcefully conscripted into the group and those who have already surrendered and given up their membership of the sect and those willing to renounce their membership,” the DHQ said.

Wap explained that members of the committee comprised relevant federal government agencies involved in the counterinsurgency operation and representatives of states in the North East and Jigawa State.

He said the committee’s terms of reference include; identifying implementation partners and establishing their responsibilities, to establish a framework for coordination of implementation agencies, to determine funding requirements and sources and to identify technical assistance needs and possible sources.

Besides, the Nigerian army yesterday said troops on operation “Lafiya Dole” ambushed and killed two fleeing terrorists and recovered several weapons.

A statement by army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman said: “The troops who laid the ambush at the Boko Haram crossing point into Sambisa Forest at Iza, engaged the terrorists who succumbed to the superior firepower of troops and fled.”

He added that: “At the end of the encounter two of the terrorists were killed, some abandoned their supplies and fled, one general purpose machine gun and one AK47 rifle were captured.”