The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, has disclosed that the recent wave of surrender by Boko Haram/ISWAP members is a testimony to the workability of President Muhammadu Buhari’s kinetic and non-kinetic measures in the fight against insurgency in the country.
Mr Monguno, who made the disclosure in Paris at the Nigeria international Partnership Forum held on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, said over 15,000 insurgents have surrendered to the Nigerian troops.
According to him, terrorism and violent extremism have continued to place a significant security burden on the African continent, particularly in the Sahel.
He said: “Apart from Somalia in the Horn of Africa, the most prominent acts of terrorism are perpetrated in the West African environs, particularly Mali and Nigeria.
“Specifically, it is necessary to state that the splintering of the Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) group into the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) created an additional stress for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Countries (LCBC).
“Nonetheless, the comprehensive approach employed under the direct supervision of President Muhammadu Buhari in our Counter terrorism operations since 2015, has continued to significantly degrade this threat.
“In recent months, there has been an endless mass surrender of terrorists and their sympathizers in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, Currently, over 15,000 people have been received.
“It is important to note that the combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, largely contributed to this wave of surrender.
“This situation has prompted large scale humanitarian activities to rehabilitate the returnees by expanding the already existing Operation SAFE CORRIDOR for de-radicalization and subsequent re-integration into society.”
Mr Monguno, therefore, commended the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon for their support in the regional counter terrorism efforts under the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Their determination and commitment have been quite reassuring,” he added.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s National Counterterrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2016 and the Policy Framework and Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) 2017 developed by the Buhari administration, serve as policy documents to guide our counter terrorism efforts.
“Therefore, we shall continue to strengthen our regional and international partnerships in tackling terrorism in order to create a more secured environment.”
