Top frontline leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province(ISWAP) terrorist group and about 76 foot soldiers including their families have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin kai in the North east region.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Sunday night by Capt. Muhammad Goni, the Acting Military Information Officer for Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai.
Goni claims that constant military pressure caused the rebels to evacuate their enclaves and dump their weapons.
He claimed that sustained military pressure forced several members of the terrorist network, including some of its key figures, to surrender.
The statement reads “The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has continued to record significant operational successes in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists through sustained operations backed by credible, timely and actionable intelligence.”
“In another major breakthrough, a fresh group of top ISWAP terrorist leaders have abandoned their enclaves and surrendered to troops within the North-East theatre of operations.
“They are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other established procedures in accordance with extant operational protocols.
However, Goni said the development underscores the devastating impact of Operation Hadin Kai’s sustained offensive, which continues to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt command and supply networks, and restrict the insurgents’ freedom of movement across the theatre of operations.
He also reaffirmed Operation Hadin Kai’s commitment to eliminating terrorism and restoring lasting peace and stability across the North-East.
Terrorist fighter’s wife, infant surrender to troops in Borno
In similar development, a woman identified as the wife of an ISWAP fighter has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, bringing along her two-month-old baby.
Zagazola Makama, a security and counter-insurgency analyst who focuses on the Lake Chad region, disclosed the development in a post on X.
According to Zagazola, the woman, identified as Falmata Bakwai, surrendered to troops of the 19 Brigade at Cross Kauwa at about 10:15 a.m. on June 26.
He further explained that Falmata said she escaped from the terrorists hideout at Dogon Chuku while her husband and other fighters were away from the camp.
Read Also: Troops Free 47 Abductees From ISWAP Captivity in Borno
Backstory…
Meanwhile, this comes amid reports that rival field commanders within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) turned their weapons on each other during a fierce dispute over a planned attack, reportedly leaving several fighters dead inside the Timbuktu Triangle.
Zagazola disclosed that the clash happened following a heated argument between senior field commanders over the conduct of an operation that had been scheduled for the previous night.
He further noted that one of the terrorist commanders, identified simply as Abu Ali, reportedly refused to allow fighters under his control to participate in the planned attack.
