Military bombardment forces 3 ISWAP fighters to surrender in Borno
Three Suspected ISWAP Fighters Surrender in Borno State
BAMAKO, Nigeria — Three suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) surrendered to Nigerian military forces engaged in Operation HADIN KAI in Damasak, Borno State, on July 28. They cited sustained military operations as a key factor in their decision to leave the insurgent group.
The suspects surrendered to troops from Headquarters 5 Brigade around 4:50 p.m. during ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the region, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
The individuals have been identified as Abba Musa Dogo, 24, Abubakar Bargaji, 28, and Ibrahim Abubakar, 16. Initial interrogations revealed that they fled from ISWAP camps located in Sabon Gari and Tunbun Mota, which are reportedly controlled by commanders Abu Fatima and Abu Ayuba.
The detainees indicated that prolonged aerial and ground bombardments by the Nigerian military rendered their survival within the camps increasingly untenable. “They attributed their decision to surrender to fatigue and the sustained military actions against their enclaves,” the report stated.
Furthermore, the suspects disclosed that they had received training as gunboat operators and anti-aircraft gunners for operations near Lake Chad. They also noted that weapons were provided to them only for specific missions and were returned immediately afterward, highlighting a stringent weapons management system within the organization.
The three suspected fighters are currently in military custody, undergoing profiling and investigation. They have expressed a willingness to renounce insurgency and pursue a path of peace.
