The Nigerian Army has released a list of 86 persons wanted “in connection with act of terrorism”.
Those on the list are alleged to be members of the Boko Haram sect.
Among those on the list are Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abu Musa Al Barnawi, Modu Sulum, Malkam Umar, Bello Husba, Yan Kolo, Ibrahim Abu Maryam, Baka Kwasari, Bana Gonna, Mohammed Abu Maryam, Abu Imma, and Abu Dardda.
The list was launched by Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, alongside Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, at the Nigerian Army Super Camp, Chabbal in Konduga local government area of Borno.
The ceremony also witnessed the launch of civilian JTF, hunters, and vigilantes into the operations of the Nigerian Army Super Camp.
Buratai said the two events were part of activities designed for the final push to end Boko Haram activities in the north-east region.
The army chief said no “child CJTF” will participate in the operation, calling on the public to support the military in fishing out remnants of the insurgents.
“It is very important that we must get them to play that important role of identifying these terrorists and their influence from one position to the other,” he said.
“As we collaborate today, this counter insurgency should not be left for the military alone as its success does not fully lie with the military.
“The collaboration with the civil authority as well as the volunteers is a welcome development.”
Zulum renewed his call on Boko Haram insurgents who hiding in Sambisa forest and bushes in the fringes of Lake Chad to lay down their arms and surrender.
This is the fourth time that the military would roll out lists of “wanted terrorists”.
Some of those wanted have been on the watch list since 2016, while others were declared wanted for the first time.
Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, says his country will use everything at its disposal to counter terrorism in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
After a virtual meeting on Tuesday, he said progress is being made in the fight against terrorism.
The meeting was attended by the US, Nigeria, members of the Global Coalition to Defeat Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and representatives of West African states.
Popmeo, who took to Twitter on Wednesday, thanked Nigeria for co-hosting the meeting.
“Great progress was made at yesterday’s virtual Global @Coalition to Defeat ISIS meeting on West Africa. We will use all tools at our disposal to counter ISIS and its affiliates anywhere in the world. My thanks to Nigeria for co-hosting the event,” he wrote.
Great progress was made at yesterday’s virtual Global @Coalition to Defeat ISIS meeting on West Africa. We will use all tools at our disposal to counter ISIS and its affiliates anywhere in the world. My thanks to Nigeria for co-hosting the event.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) November 11, 2020
Nathan Sales, the newly designated special envoy for the Global Coalition, had at the meeting outlined the Coalition’s increasing focus on defeating ISIS’ global branches and affiliates.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Nigerian delegation that was led by Yaminu Musa, who serves as coordinator for the counter terrorism centre in Nigeria’s office of the national security adviser (ONSA), for co-hosting the event.
Pompeo’s office in a statement had earlier said as the Global Coalition seeks to apply lessons learned from the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria to other locations, participants reviewed potential lines of effort, including the use of battlefield evidence and border security measures that could be applied in West Africa.
Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) is an affiliate of ISIS. Cable
