Middle: Theatre Commander Operation Hadin Kai Major General Christopher Musa, Deputy Theatre Commander Major Ahmed and Major General Waidi Shuaibu during a media briefing at headquarters Theatre command Maimalari cantonment Maiduguri
The Theatre Commander, Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Major-General Christopher Musa says more than 81,000 Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and their families have surrendered to the military.
Giving a breakdown of the numbers during a media briefing at headquarters of the Command in Maiduguri, Major-General Musa said more than 40,000 are children, 24,000 women and 16,378 men.
According to him, a new holding facility is being constructed to accommodate the surging number of repentant insurgents.
The Theatre Commander pledged that the military would provide maximum security in all the four facilities.
“We took all the necessary measures to ensure that we can give the best kind of support, security wise where the government can be able to provide necessary management and administrative requirement to the insurgents,” the general told his audience.
“We assure you that it is going to be safe, no fears we are ready to provide necessary support, although All measures have been considered before the place was selected,” he said.
General Musa also presented two rescued Chibok girls, Yana Pogu with her four children, including twins, and Rejoice Sanki, also with her children.
He said 13 Chibok girls have been rescued from Boko Haram captivity in the last five months.
General Officer Commandin(GOC) Seven Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General Shuaibu Waidi said the rescued girls and their children have received medical attention and will be handed over to the Borno state government.
Reporting by Dauda Iliya; Editing by Omotola Oguneye and Tony Okerafor