CAMEROONIAN defence ministry officials say that over 300 Boko Haram militants have surrendered to their soldiers and asked for political asylum in the country following their recent defeat in Kodunga culminating in the death of their leader. After a fierce battle with the Nigerian Army in Kodunga in Borno State on September 17, Boko Haram suffered heavy casualties, with their leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau shot dead. Over 200 fighters were killed and a lot of their equipment, including armoured personnel carriers was seized, leading to the remnants of the Boko Haram army scattering in different directions. Lt Col Didier Badjeck, a spokesman for the Cameroonian Army, said that the militants have given up their arms and asked for asylum in Cameroun. He added that the Cameroonian authorities are considering their request, pointing out that some of the fighters are also from Niger and Chad. Boko Haram had seized a string of towns and declared an Islamic caliphate in a corner of northeast Nigeria before the setback suffered at Konduga. Before the Battle of Kodunga, Sheikh Shekau had boasted that his fighters would soon take over Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which was just 35km away. However, since suffering what appears to be a monumental setback, the insurgents campaign appears to have collapsed. Within Nigeria, hundreds of them have surrendered to the authorities and a mopping up operation is going on to clear out the remaining pockets they hold, including towns like Gwoza.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 05:45:31 +0000
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