PHOTOS: Army releases Fresh Pictures Of 55 Wanted Boko Haram Suspects

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, unveiled the poster bearing photographs of 55 most wanted Boko Haram members, including their supposed leader, Abubakar Shekau.

The poster, with inscription written in English, Hausa and Kanuri languages, is the third edition of such posters. It has phone numbers which members of the public could call or send text messages to indicate which of the characters in the photographs they know or have information about.

Displaying the poster at the headquaters of Operation Lafiya Dole, Buratai recalled that the first and second editions comprising 202 terrorists were launched last year.

He said that many terrorists in the first and second editions were either identified and arrested or killed during operations.

The COAS added that the new poster also included photographs of some of the other insurgents already in the past editions but not arrested.

According to him, members of the public that have any credible information on any of the wanted terrorists should call any of the phone numbers printed on the posters, noting that the information given would be treated discreetly and professionally.

Buratai said, “I am appealing to the members of the public to come out with information that would assist in the arrest of these terrorists. The 55 Boko Haram members declared wanted have their faces on the poster. The members of the public should look at the poster very well and report appropriately.”

The army chief noted that the troops had recorded “milestone victory” in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations as hundreds of the Boko Haram members had surrendered.

Buratai, who commended the Nigerian Army for keeping to the desired task of defeating the terrorists, implored the troops not to be discouraged by the recent casualty the military suffered during a recent ambush laid by the insurgents.

“We cannot afford to lose the fight because we are better trained and equipped in every capacity. The whole nation is behind us, Mr. President is with us. So, let us remain steadfast in this noble cause. Be courageous, we must degrade and defeat the terrorists entirely. It is a job that must be done. We must  make our country men and women proud,” he added.