The Nigerian Army has stated that repentant Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists are not being recruited into its ranks.
This was disclosed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. It was in response to online reports relating the collapse of the Afghan military to the ongoing surrender by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Nigeria.
“While it is understood that the situation in Afghanistan calls for concerns by any right-thinking person or organisation, the manner in which the comic Young Elder presented it shows his lack of basic knowledge on the subject he hurriedly delved into.
“The amateurish production conjured some unfounded and baseless claims that only exist in the figment of their imagination, claiming that surrendered terrorists were going to be absorbed into the Nigerian army.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NA does not have any repentant terrorist joining its ranks and does not have any plan for that.
“There are teaming able-bodied Nigerians that are willing to join the NA to genuinely help in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes,” Nwachukwu said.
The Army spokesperson said the Nigerian Army was not so desperate for prospective recruits to the level of stooping low to engage the services of former terrorists.
He added that surrendered terrorists would still be received, processed and passed to the appropriate government agencies saddled with the responsibility of handling them.
“We recommend that matters related to security be left with those who have the requisite expertise and experience,” he said.
It can be recalled that this week, the Zamfara State Government had disclosed that it would work with the Federal Government and National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to resettle all IDPs in the state.
