Three suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army in Damasak, Borno State, as part of ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai.
Surrender Amid Sustained Military Pressure
The suspects gave themselves up at about 4:50 p.m. on July 28 to troops of Headquarters 5 Brigade in Damasak. They were identified as Abba Musa Dogo (24), Abubakar Bargaji (28), and Ibrahim Abubakar (16). Preliminary investigations revealed they escaped from terrorist camps at Sabon Gari and Tunbun Mota, areas reportedly controlled by ISWAP commanders Abu Fatima and Abu Ayuba.
Reasons for Abandoning Insurgency
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the suspects stated that they decided to surrender because of fatigue and the relentless aerial and ground bombardment of their camps, which made survival increasingly difficult. They admitted they had been trained as gunboat operators and anti-aircraft gunners for operations in the Lake Chad region.
Tight Weapons Control by Terrorist Commanders
The surrendered fighters further disclosed that weapons were only issued to them immediately before specific operations and were retrieved by their commanders after each mission. This suggests a tightly controlled weapons management system within the terrorist group, aimed at minimizing defections and losses.
Renunciation and Ongoing Investigations
The three suspects expressed their readiness to renounce insurgency and embrace peace. They are currently in military custody and are undergoing further profiling and investigation in line with established procedures. Their surrender adds to a growing trend of terrorists abandoning the insurgency due to sustained military offensives targeting enclaves across the Lake Chad region under Operation Hadin Kai.
