ISWAP fighter surrenders, hands over gun to troops in Borno
A member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) surrendered to troops participating in Operation Hadin Kai in the Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State on June 1. The individual, identified as Bakaka Bukar, approached soldiers at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari around 6:00 p.m.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Bukar relinquished one AK-47 rifle upon his surrender. He expressed his desire to abandon insurgency and reintegrate into society.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Bukar had escaped from the Arinna Maimasalaci enclave, an ISWAP stronghold reportedly led by a commander known as Abu Salim.
Makama noted that this surrender aligns with the ongoing success of counter-insurgency operations, which have intensified pressure on terrorist hideouts in the North-East region of Nigeria. Following initial screening and documentation, military officials transported Bukar to the Bulunkutu Rehabilitation Centre in Maiduguri. There, he will participate in the Federal Government’s deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration program.
“The recent military offensives, along with sustained air and ground operations, have continued to weaken terrorist networks and encourage defections among insurgent ranks,” Makama stated. He added that while the security situation in the area remains calm, it is also unpredictable. Troops maintain high morale and operational effectiveness in their ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace in the region.
