The Nigerian military has urged the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists to surrender and accept peace.
The Commanding General Officer (GOC), 7th Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General. AA Eyitayo, made the call at a party organized for journalists by the army on Sunday in Maiduguri.
Eyitayo, who is also the Sector 1 commander, Operation Hadin Kai, said the recent military attack on the insurgents dealt a decisive blow to the terrorists, leaving their remains in disarray.
He noted that no one, including the military, was happy with the bloodshed, hence the need for the remnants of the insurgents to take advantage of the amnesty and repent in their nefarious ways.
This, he said, would offer them (insurgents) the opportunity to benefit from rehabilitation and acquire skills to enable them to live a useful life in society.
The GOC praised the media’s contributions to the counterinsurgency campaign and urged it to enlighten the insurgents to see the light and repent of their unnecessary endeavors.
“We are not here for bloodletting, no one is happy that people are dying.
“Some of them (the insurgents) listen to the media, so it’s good for us to appeal to them through the media to avoid violence, come forward to ask for forgiveness and reconciliation,” Eyitayo said.
According to him, the party with the journalists was to show the appreciation of the media reporting of the military operations in the state.
“In the last three months since I took up my post in Maiduguri in this capacity, there has never been a bad relationship.
“It’s to appreciate the media for the positive reporting,” he said.
In his remarks, Mohammed Ibrahim, secretary of the Nigerian Journalists Union (NUJ), Borno State Council, commended the government of China for accompanying the media and assured it of more support and cooperation.
Mohammed also praised the army and other security agencies involved in the fight against the insurgency for their sacrifices and urged them not to give in, adding that residents of the northeast region were firmly behind them. (NAN)
