Seventeen individuals linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including suspected fighters and family members, have surrendered to Nigerian Army troops across Borno State between September 19 and 25. The surrenders took place in Dikwa, Bama, and Ngala Local Government Areas, marking a significant development in the ongoing military operations against terrorism in the region. Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed the incidents, highlighting increased internal instability within ISWAP enclaves as a key factor driving defections.
The first surrender occurred on September 19 when a woman, identified as a terrorist family member, handed herself and her two children over to soldiers of the 24 Task Force Brigade at Check Point 1 along the Dikwa-Ajiri road. She had fled from an ISWAP stronghold, seeking safety with Nigerian forces. Two days later, another woman and her child surrendered at the same checkpoint after escaping from the Yaganari terrorist enclave to Gonori village in Mafa LGA. She revealed that her husband, Bakura Modu, was an active ISWAP fighter.
On the same day, September 21, three additional family members of terrorists surrendered to troops of the 151 Battalion in Bula Daloye, Bama LGA. These developments suggest growing unrest within ISWAP’s operational zones. On September 24, a suspected fighter surrendered to the 24 Task Force Brigade at the Dikwa-Ajiri checkpoint after fleeing from a camp in Gargash. Also on that day, seven more family members turned themselves in to soldiers of the 3 Battalion, Mechanised, at the Arabic IDP Camp in Ngala.
The final surrender happened on September 25, when a woman and her son presented themselves to military personnel in Bama. Preliminary investigations indicated she had escaped from a terrorist camp in Bula Daloye due to internal disagreements and worsening living conditions. She identified herself as a native of Bula Daloye and disclosed that her husband, Ibrahim Usman, was a known ISWAP fighter. The woman and her child are currently in military custody pending further interrogation.
These surrenders come amid reports of factional clashes and deepening divisions within ISWAP strongholds. The military has been intensifying its efforts to dismantle terrorist networks through targeted operations and intelligence-driven engagements. The increasing number of defections reflects both the effectiveness of these strategies and the deteriorating morale within extremist groups. As security forces continue to expand their reach, the trend of surrenders may signal a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency in the northeast.
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