The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said a Qaid (commander) of the Boko Haram terrorist organization, Saleh Mustapha, also known as Ibn Kathir, has surrendered.
In a statement by Major-General Benard Onyeuko, the Director, Defence Media Operations, obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, Nigerian security forces said the recent submission of Ibn Kathir was a significant achievement for its ‘Operation Hadin Kai’.
Ibn Kathir was the Commander of outlaws in Garin Abba area of Taraba State.
“Cumulatively, in the last two weeks troops recovered 1 Battle Tank, 5 artillery guns, 2 GTS, 3 AA guns, 1 Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, 3 gun trucks, 1 MOWAG Armored Personnel Carrier, 2 RPG tubes, 3 RPG rockets, 3 RPG bombs, 1 NSVT gun, 2 GPMG, 1 light MG, 1 PKM, 3 GPMG belts, 4 belts of PKT rounds, 600 7.62mm NATO rounds, 16 AK 47 rifles, 1 dane gun, 270 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1 Toyota Buffalo vehicle, 1 Golf saloon car, 4 motorcycles, 6 magazines, 2 pairs of camouflage, 2 terrorists flags, 1 tricycle and 1 active drone.
“Also, troops neutralized scores of terrorist arrests, 22 terrorist spies, 11 terrorists, 3 logistics suppliers and rescued 30 civilians. Of significant is the surrender of a high-profile terrorist Commander Sale Mustapha (Ibin Kathir) to own troops in Bama. He was the Qaid of Garin Ba-Abba. A total of 51,114 Boko Haram terrorists and families surrendered to troops, comprising of 11,398 men, 15,381 women, 24,335 children as at 5 April 2022.
“Accordingly, all surrendered terrorists have been documented, while arrested, rescued civilians and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” the statement by Major-General Onyeuko reads in part.
The Boko Haram group launched an uprising in northeastern Nigeria in 2009. Since that time, their violence has not ceased.
