The Borno government has confirmed that only six repentant Boko Haram insurgents escaped and not 13 as being insinuated.
The repentant insurgents had surrendered under the state government’s reconciliation programme.
This is contained in a statement by Prof. Usman Tar, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, on Thursday in Maiduguri.
“Oly six insurgents escaped and not 13 as quoted by some media.
“The escapees were part of a cohort of over 20,000 militants recently processed and categorized as low risk.
“The group had been documented, profiled, and assessed for their mental state, vulnerability to extremism, and risk of relapse.
“These repentant insurgents escaped unarmed and are being tracked down. Preliminary investigations reveal that the rumors of them escaping with government arms are false.
“The terrorists have historically acquired weapons from various subterranean sources, often using them in propaganda videos, but this should not be construed as government-issued arms,” he said.
Tar said the small size of the escape, the six absconders represents an insignificant fraction of the 20,000, who had successfully gone through the reintegration process.
He cautioned the people against amplifying the situation, warning that such acts could play into the hands of terrorists, emboldening them and potentially undermining ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
“The government remains committed to restoring peace and security in Borno State.
“Citizens should rest assured that everything is being done to ensure peace in the state,” he said, and urged the public to support these efforts.
He, therefore, urged the people to remain vigilant, and refrain from falling victim to terrorist propaganda that could demoralise security forces and citizens.
