Theatre commander of operation Hadin Kai, Christopher Musa has stated that 17,000 insurgents have now surrendered to troops.
This was disclosed on Friday by Musa during a courtesy visit to the management of North East Development Commission (NEDC).
The development weeks after Bernard Onyeuko, acting director of defence information, disclosed that more than 1,000 insurgents, including two bomb experts and their family members, surrendered to troops of operation Hadin Kai recently.
Musa said those who surrendered included persons “conscripted against their wish”, adding that the latest development has affected the plans of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) to adopt Boko Haram members.
According to him, ISWAP has also set up a task force to stop insurgents from surrendering to the army.
Musa commended the president, chief of defence staff and other service chiefs for putting in the necessary efforts to end insurgency in the country.
He also praised the NEDC for playing their role in the rehabilitation of the insurgents who surrendered.
“From the president, minister of defence, chief of defence staff, service chiefs, everyone is putting hands on deck to see that the menace is ended and we have peace in the north-east,” he said.
“We know that if we have peace in the north-east, it will transcend to other regions.”
Mohammed Alkali, the managing director of the commission, said the effective role of the military in restoring peace in the region has enabled the commission to embark on various projects in recovered areas.
Alkali assured the military of continuous collaboration and support, and urged them to sustain the tempo.