Olanisakin: "I urge all to facilitate in tracking them down for the good and development of the country."
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, has released a banner containing photographs and names of 55 Boko Haram insurgents wanted for various attacks and terrorist activities in the northeast, where the military is currently at war against the terrorist group.
"I urge all to facilitate in tracking them down for the good and development of the country," the defence chief said while releasing the banner at a brief event at the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maimalari Cantonement of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.
"With this launching of an additional list of wanted terrorists, it is hoped that the public will collaborate to identify the wanted Boko Haram members wherever they are," he added.
He, however, urged Boko Haram militants who wish to surrender their arms and embrace peace to do so in time so as to benefit from the military's Operation Save Corridors program for repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, said in an opening remark that the army first published a wanted list of Boko Haram in late 2015, adding that it released the second later. He said the fresh list which contained the name and photograph of Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader, was the third list released to the public.
Mr. Buratai said the military published the list so civilians who recognize the insurgents' names or photographs can provide the military with useful information regarding the Boko Haram men. He promised that such information would be treated with secrecy.
Speaking on the war against insurgency, he insisted that Boko Haram has been defeated and advised people not to doubt the claim.
"It is very clear that Boko Haram has been defeated. To insist otherwise is to encourage the terrorists to evolve, to get them to feel they are around. We know some of the insurgents are still around but their end is near," he said.
