The success being recorded by the Nigerian troops in the Northeast is huge. However, there are concerns about the increase in numbers of the terrorists surrendering to the Nigeria military and this continue to provoke doubts among some security analysts on the genuineness of these repented terrorists.

In this interview, ABUJACITYJOURNAL’s  Defence Correspondent, OLAYEMI ESAN  who visited the Holding Facilities and the Operation Hadin Kai in North East in Borno State recently speaks with the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, MAJ. GEN. CHRISTOPHER MUSA who gives detailed activities of military operations in the fight against banditry and terrorism in the area.

ACJ: Some Nigerians are a still skeptical about the safety of the people living in the IDPs in areas prone to conflict. How much confidence can be given about the vulnerability of these citizens in those places? 

TC: There is no way the military can mix the surrendered terrorists with the IDPs. IDPs are those ones that had been sacked from their community because of insurgency, because of the actions or inactions of certain individuals. The IDPs are camped separately and being treated fairly by the government, while the surrendered terrorists are handled separately. They have sorted out the terrorists Commanders and are kept at separate locations, while those who are not part of it are also sorted out at a different location.

There is no mixture; everybody is going to answer according to his own deeds. We guarantee the public to be confident that the Nigeria Military, the Operation Hadin Kai will ensure that the proper thing and the right thing is done. Nobody, no compromise, we will ensure that we do the right thing.

ACJ: On this issue of pampering the surrendered terrorists, could you please clear the air? Is it true that the military are pampering the repentant terrorists? 

TC: During combat, internationally when somebody surrenders, by law, we are not allowed to shoot that individual. We are supposed to hold him, arrest him and treat in humanely. Nigerians misconstrue the humane treatment as being pampering. If he is sick, we are to treat him, we are to provide food, shelter to ensure that they are fit enough to go through proper procedure. They will definitely go through the procedure. The public should know that there is no aspect of pampering, we are sorting them out, we are sorting those who took part actively, the combatant and those who didn't play any part are handled separately.

This is important for them, that right from the beginning anyone who disarms would be treated fairly according to the international laws. There are laws of the Federation that guide all those issues. Those ones that were combatants, those ones that have surrendered are being sorted out by the military including some of them that were conscripted forcefully. Some of these terrorists’ members grew up in a system without knowing what is going on; some of them are just being held as ordinary slaves, used as farmers and so on. We will sort everybody out and the law will take his cause.

ACJ: There are fears that the surrendered terrorists are not genuine. I want to know the genuineness of their surrendering? 

TC: If you look at how surrendering commenced, it was because of the kinetic and non-kinetic action. The kinetic action is to bring them to table and made them to understand that, we cannot fight the nation and win and that's what the military is doing and that is yielding the result. The non-kinetic aspect is to give them option, windows of opportunities, instead of staying and being killed, they have the opportunity of repenting and coming out.

When they come out, the laws will take its parts by treating you and knowing exactly what you have done. We have advised the government that even when you do that, after that, we need to get the victims across. So that we have seen what have been used in other countries like South Africa, Rwanda because no matter what you do, kinetic aspect will never be the final solution. They must come, there must be dialogue. There will be Truth and Reconciliation Committee that brings confrontation and say to the extent what was done. The victims will listen and agree on whatever it is. Whatever process being done, the victims are carried along. The Nigerian Army reassured Nigerians that, we will ensure the victim will not lose out at whatever aspect. The proper process is going to take place. There won't be any compromise.

The nation will take the proper course through its Constitution. Operation Hadin Kai is doing his own beat, and the military operation is at about 20%; the remaining 80% has to do with the diplomacy, humanitarian, justice and rule of law. They are being secured separately; they are not going to be released just like that. They will be processed. Some of these processes have been done so far apart from the profiling. The profiling is being done by Nigerian military intelligence agencies like DIA, DSS, Customs, immigration and other security agencies which made it Operation Joint Task Force.

Numbers of surrendered terrorists increased to about 10,000. There is a greater hope, better chance that the fight against insurgency will end soon in the North East, which will translate down to other operations of the country. No one pay any surrender terrorists to come out, they have understood that, kinetic efforts, dealing with them and the window of opportunity to surrender.

ACJ: Aside from the kinetic approach to the counter insurgency fight, what other measures are the military considering to engage the Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters towards ending the long campaign in the Northeast? 

TC: What is going on now has the probability of bringing to an end the insurgency in the North East. Let me point out this, ISWAP is a foreign organization. It is funded by foreign individuals and some locals. They have foreign leadership. They have no stake in Nigeria. We encourage Nigerians with them to pull out and understand that they don't mean well for the country, they don't mean well for themselves too.

If we handle this properly, I can assure you that we would see to the end of insurgency in the North East. ISWAP do not have the manpower, they were relying on the Shekau group’s members and that's why the Shekau group is coming out and ISWAP is frustrated. They are trying to recruit foreign fighters to fight for them, that is why military is advising neighbouring countries not to allow anyone to use their own land to come into Nigeria for whatever reason. It is that important and that's the diplomatic aspect that we are also looking into.

ACJ: Your final advice to Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists who are yet to surrender to the Military. 

TC: I want to inform all those insurgents, those that have not made up their minds, those that are scared, those that are worried about what will happen to them when they come out, that the best option for everyone is to surrender and come out to a peaceful environment. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) once mentioned that it doesn't make sense for humans to stay in the bushes just like animals for whatever reasons. They have no cause to take up arms against a nation; they have no cause to kill anybody. Anyone that has issue with the nation should come out, because there will be avenue provided for them to air their views. They will be listened to and attended to for possible solution.

I called on Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters or any other armed groups in the country, that there is no reason to take up arms against the nation. We should disarm; they should come out and join the nation to develop into a greater Nigeria for our future. I am sure even the terrorists too want to have a conducive atmosphere for their families where they will grow, where there will be development. Staying in the bush and slaughtering people will not provide that. They should not allow anybody to deceive them into taking up arms against the nation; they will never win, the can never win. The Nigerian Army assured the citizenry that we are on top of the game and we again reassured that we will continue to do our very best to ensure that peace returns to the North East which is our mandate.