*Insurgents killed 93 in Gonzales in a single day, says Sent. Nduma
By Myke Uzendu and Chuks Oyema-Aziken, with agency reports
The Nigerian military on Wednesday said some 410 members of the Darul Salam Terrorists Group have surrendered.
A bomb-making factory belonging to the terrorists has also been decimated.
The information was contained in a statement signed by a military spokesman, Major-General John Enenche.
The surrender followed “aggressive intensive kinetic operations at identified bandits’ enclaves” by a military unit, Operation Whirl Stroke, and other security agencies deployed at Uttu in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Enenche said.
Among the surrendered terrorists were women and children.
The military also said Operation Whirl Stroke personnel “stormed a Darul Salam terrorists bomb-making factory” and recovered several rocket launcher bombs and other explosive materials.
“The camp was subsequently destroyed while troops are equally combing the surrounding forests for fleeing members of the sect,” Enenche said.
He stated: “In continuation of aggressive clearance operations aimed at decisively riding the North-Central zone of armed banditry and other forms of criminality, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have recorded a major success against the criminal elements.
“Following aggressive intensive kinetic operations at identified bandits’ enclaves, not less than 410 members of the Darul Salam Terrorists group, including women and children, surendered to the troops of operation WHIRL STROKE and other security agencies deployed at Uttu in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. This development took place on 25 August 2020.
“Relatedly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE while on a robust clearance patrol around Uttu, on 26 August 2020 stormed a Darul Salam terrorists bomb-making factory following actionable technical and human intelligence on the activities of the terrorists in the general area. In the course of the operation, troops recovered several Improvised Explosive Device making materials at the location including 2 scales, 6 rocket launcher bombs, one bag of fertilizer, half a bag of gun powder, 10 locally made hand grenades, one Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb fuse, one locally made Rocket Launcher, 2 Improvised Explosive Devices,13 Improvised rocket bombs, amongst others. The camp was subsequently destroyed while troops are equally combing the surrounding forests for fleeing members of the sect.
“The Military High Command commends the gallant troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE for their professionalism and dexterity in achieving this notable feat and also urges them to sustain the tempo in the push to decisively curtail the activities of armed bandits and other criminals operating in the North-Central zone.
“You are please requested to disseminate this information through your medium with the photos attached for the awareness of the general public. Thank you for your usual support and cooperation.
*Boko Haram killed 93 people near my home ― Ndume
Meanwhile, according to national newspaper, Daily Trust, the senator representing Borno South, Sen. Ali Ndume, on Wednesday told a townhall meeting how Boko Haram insurgents killed 93 people in his home town of Gwoza in a single day.
“Even as a serving senator, I still cannot go to Gwoza my home town because it is not safe. I need army escort because it is not safe,” Ndume told a townhall meeting organised by the Senate committee on special duties and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Maiduguri.
The dead, he said, include 75 elders – 73 of whom were taken into an abbattoir and slaughtered, and another 20 almajirai near his home were shot dead.
The town came under heavy Boko Haram attack in 2014, with hundreds killed.
Militants dressed as soldiers had invaded and killed hundreds in four villages in Gwoza.
A delegation led by Senator Yusuf Yusuf, and including Ndume, is reviewing the activities of NEDC and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the northeast region.
“I came from Gwoza, in Gwoza there were elders, my elders 75 of them that I know all of them, one day in the morning they were dragged and taken to abattoir in Gwoza and they were slaughtered one after the other, two of them survived because of blood covered them and the Boko Haram thought they were dead that is how they survived.
“Malam Durubu is my neighbour, 20 of his Almajirai were shot and killed in a day, I can still remember their house, I can remember vividly 20 of them were lied down and shots dead randomly.These were just some stand out cases, I don’t want to continue pleased.
He continued: “Our security agencies are trying their efforts, and we have to give it to them. But the situation is overwhelming and worrisome. People are dying every day, either by hunger or attacks from insurgents. We have lost many lives here.”
