60,000 Surrendered Terrorists Are Children — CDS Musa

Abuja, Nigeria —  General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has revealed that over 60,000 out of the 120,000 Boko Haram terrorists who surrendered to the Nigerian military are children.

The disclosure was made during an interview on Arise News Channel’s breakfast programme, The Morning Show, on Monday, which was monitored by our correspondent.

General Musa attributed the mass surrender of insurgents to the military’s strategic efforts to cut off their access to vital resources, such as food and funds.

“These 120,000 weren’t captured; they surrendered because we denied them access to funding and food. We also offered them a chance to surrender, and they took it,” he explained.

He emphasized that the surrendered individuals were thoroughly profiled in collaboration with state governments, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). This process helped identify active terrorists, separating them from others.

“Not everyone among them was a terrorist. Some were conscripted, forced, or enslaved. We identified and separated those individuals,” General Musa added.

The Defence Chief raised concerns about Boko Haram’s strategy of using women to create a new generation of fighters, noting that many of the 60,000 children were born in captivity.

“In the past, they captured communities, forcing men to join them under the threat of death. Now, without territory, they impregnate women to breed a new generation of fighters,” he said.

He highlighted the dangers of children growing up in environments where violence, such as killing and beheading, is normalized, making them desensitized to humanity.

“Children raised in such an atmosphere grow without empathy or sympathy. We’re glad these 60,000 children have surrendered, giving us a chance to intervene,” General Musa noted.

He outlined the processes for handling surrendered terrorists, with active participants undergoing deradicalisation and investigation. Those found guilty are prosecuted, while others are sent to Operation Safe Haven in Gombe State for rehabilitation and skill acquisition programs.

General Musa stressed the need to address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and poor governance.

“Unemployment, hunger, and lack of education fuel terrorism. Local and state governments must ensure good governance, schools, and infrastructure to combat illiteracy,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of regional collaboration to address cross-border terrorism, as insurgent leaders operate in border areas between Nigeria and neighboring countries.

“We must work with our neighbors to tackle insurgents operating across borders. Such cooperation is key to achieving lasting peace,” General Musa explained.

The Defence Chief accused certain individuals and groups of undermining counterterrorism efforts, alleging that some engage with insurgents to perpetuate insecurity.

“There are people making it seem like nothing is being done, even discussing with terrorists to sustain their agenda of portraying Nigeria as unsafe,” he concluded.

By Enoch Odesola| January 13, 2025