At least 17 individuals suspected of ties to the Islamic State West Africa Province have surrendered to Nigerian military forces across various locations in Borno State. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the surrenders occurred between September 19 and 25 in Dikwa, Bama, and Ngala Local Council Areas. The individuals include family members of terrorists and at least one suspected fighter.
The surrender process began on September 19 when a woman and her two children turned themselves in to troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade at a checkpoint along the Dikwa-Ajiri Road. The woman reportedly escaped from the Yaganari terrorist enclave to Gonori Village in Mafa council following factional clashes. She disclosed that her husband, Bakura Modu, was an ISWAP fighter.
Over the next few days, more individuals surrendered to Nigerian military forces. On the same day, another woman and her child surrendered at the same checkpoint. Three more terrorist family members turned themselves in to troops of 151 Battalion at Bula Daloye in Bama council. A suspected terrorist also surrendered to troops of 24 Task Force Brigade on September 24 after reportedly escaping from a camp in Gargash.
The surrenders continued with seven terrorist family members turning themselves in to troops of 3 Mechanised Battalion at the Arabic IDP Camp in Ngala. On September 25, a woman from Bula Daloye and her son surrendered to troops in Bama. Preliminary investigations indicate that she had escaped from a terrorist camp in Bula Daloye due to internal disagreements and hardship within the enclave.
The woman who surrendered on September 25 disclosed that her husband, Ibrahim Usman, is a terrorist fighter. According to Zagazola Makama, these surrenders indicate that some ISWAP members are defecting due to internal conflicts and difficulties within their ranks. The Nigerian military has been conducting sustained operations against terrorist groups in the region.
Philip Agbese, the House of Representatives’ Deputy Spokesperson, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their recent successes against terrorism and banditry. He praised the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, and military chiefs for their effective and strategic operational leadership. Agbese noted that the military has moved beyond rhetoric to mounting sustained pressure on terrorist groups.
Agbese attributed the recent gains to improved intelligence, air and ground operations, and greater coordination among the military services and other security agencies. The sustained offensives have targeted terrorist formations, logistics networks, and support structures in the North-East and North-West. The military's efforts have led to a shift from a largely reactive approach to proactive operations against terrorist groups.
Key points
- 17 ISWAP suspects have surrendered to Nigerian military in Borno State between September 19 and 25.
- The surrenders were recorded across Dikwa, Bama, and Ngala Local Council Areas.
- The Nigerian military's sustained operations have led to a shift from reactive to proactive approaches against terrorist groups.
