The Nigeria Army says about 1,240 suspected Boko Haram terrorists have been arrested by troops during a mop-up operation inside the Sambisa forest.
The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. -Gen. Lucky Irabor, stated this on Wednesday while updating newsmen on Operation Rescue Final at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
Irabor said that 413 of the suspects were male adults; 323 were female adults; 251 male children, while 253 were female children.
“We are interrogating them to know whether they are Boko Haram members, because there is no way somebody that is not their member would live inside Sambisa forest.
“We are still on the trail of the terrorists and I want to assure you that all escape routes have been blocked.
“Within this period, also, about 30 fleeing suspected Boko Haram members have surrendered to the Niger Multinational Troops on the shores of the lake Chad and we learnt that they were taken to Difa in the Niger Republic.
“The suspects include; 24 male and six females.
“We would like to use this opportunity to encourage the terrorists to give up the fight because the window is still open,” the commander said.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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