1,250 Boko Haram Terrorists, Families Surrender To Troops In Borno

At least 1,250 fleeing Boko Haram fighters and families have surrendered to the Nigerian troops in the North East in the last seven days.

Naija News reported that deadly clashes between Boko Haram terrorists and the Islamic State for the West African Province (ISWAP) claimed over 200 lives.

Speaking with Counter Insurgency Expert in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, a top military source said the fleeing terrorists in Yale in Konduga and Choliye in Gudumbali LGA neutralized more than 200 of the insurgents.

He said following the latest attack, ISWAP fighters stormed other Boko Haram hideouts in Asinari, Ashanari, and Masarmari areas in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno on March 1, 2023, and killed scores of fighters.

The source explained that the sustained clash of the groups triggered the massive surrendering of the militants in Mafa, Konduga, and Bama Local Government Areas.

He said: “The militants surrendered because of the fear that they will be neutralized by either the super Tukanos (fighter jets) of the military or ISWAP rival faction.

“There was no hiding place anymore for them. If they stay in open ground, they will be killed by troops and if they attempt to cross over to the ISWAP strongholds in Northern Borno, they will get killed too,” the source said.

The source said following the combined pressure, the terrorists and families were forced to surrender.

“So far, we have received 1,250 fighters and their families within one week. This overwhelming number was the highest we have received in a very short period of time in different parts of the theatre.

“The surrendered suspects, who also came out with about 1,000 livestock, confessed that the ISWAP were after their lives as they do not spare women and children. Among those who surrendered were women, who had been enslaved by, conscripted by, or minors born to the insurgents.”

The military source added that profiling of the surrendered terrorists was ongoing, after which they would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further rehabilitation.