Politics
Hundreds of Boko Haram militants as Nigeria increases pressure on group
Hundreds of al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram militants have surrendered in Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon following the military’s recent victories with air and ground attacks, military authorities said Wednesday.
The Nigerian Defense Ministry has said it has killed hundreds of insurgents recently in the country’s northeast.
Several militant commanders were among the dead including Mohammed Bashir, whom the Nigerian military identified as a double who posed in videos as Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, a military statement said Wednesday.
The military has claimed Shekau was killed in battle last year.
Nigeria’s military said it was victorious around Konduga town just 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Maiduguri, birthplace of Boko Haram and the headquarters of the military offensive to contain the militants.
“It became apparent that the terrorists were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri, which is their prime target,” the statement said, adding the insurgents made 4 attempts to take Konduga between September 12 and 17.
It said 135 insurgents surrendered Tuesday night, some at Buni-Yadi some 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Konduga and others at Michika, 165 kilometers (100 miles) south of Konduga.
