Four members of the Islamic State West Africa Province have surrendered to Nigerian troops after reportedly becoming disillusioned by worsening conditions inside a terrorist enclave in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
The development followed sustained military operations, including airstrikes and psychological operations, which reportedly disrupted the activities of the terrorist group and made living conditions increasingly difficult for its members.
The surrendered individuals comprised three adults and one minor, according to information obtained from military sources. They reportedly told investigators that they had been abducted and forced into the terrorist group at different locations in Borno State.
The individuals were identified as Isha Bukar, 19, from Gamboru Ngala; Abubakar Alkali, 25, from Monguno; Tijani Mele, 15, from Dikwa; and Abubakar Mohammed Mairiga, 24, from Damboa.
Bukar reportedly told investigators that he was abducted about a year ago by his elder brother, who was allegedly a member of ISWAP, and taken to the Arinna Chiki terrorist camp in Marte.
Alkali, from Monguno, said he was abducted by ISWAP fighters while working on his farm at Buluwa village in Marte LGA.
Mele, 15, reportedly said he was abducted by his brother while fetching firewood around the Gudunbali general area of Guzamala, while Mairiga, a fisherman from Damboa, said he was abducted while fishing at Dowoshi in Kukawa LGA.
The four eventually escaped from the terrorist enclave and surrendered to Nigerian troops. They were subsequently moved to Headquarters Sector 3 for further processing and interrogation.
Military sources said the intensified operations had significantly disrupted the terrorists’ activities and contributed to the decision of some members to abandon the group.
“Survival in such condition was nearly impossible,” one of the surrendered individuals reportedly told investigators.
The former ISWAP members said they were based at the Arinna Chiki camp in Marte, which they described as a major terrorist enclave.
They reportedly identified the camp’s leaders as Abu Salim and Abu Riana, supported by other commanders described as lieutenants. The enclave was said to be divided into several sections, including Gari Ba’amfani, Mujiza, Guzuma, Sabon Tumbu, Yates Kura and Latimer.
The former fighters also disclosed that weapons were issued to members before operations and returned to the leadership after missions.
According to their accounts, the group carried out attacks in several parts of Borno State, including Monguno, Marte, Ngoshe and Gamboru Ngala, while also conducting attacks across the border in Cameroon.
They further disclosed that ISWAP relied heavily on criminal activities and attacks on civilians to sustain its logistics, including targeting commuters and exploiting farming activities for supplies.
The disclosures provide security agencies with additional information on the structure, leadership, activities and operational areas of the terrorist enclave in Marte.
The four also admitted that they had remained active members of the group before deciding to escape and surrender to the military.
Their surrender comes amid sustained military pressure on terrorist groups in the North-East through coordinated ground operations, airstrikes and psychological operations aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and encouraging fighters and their associates to abandon the insurgency.
The latest development is expected to provide further intelligence for ongoing military operations against ISWAP and other terrorist groups operating in the region.
