Six suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), alongside their family members, have surrendered to Nigerian troops in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, the military has announced.
The surrender was disclosed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Mohammed Goni, who said the development was part of recent operational successes recorded by troops across the region.
According to him, preliminary investigations showed that the fighters and their families fled from the Guduf Bubayagwa and Chikide terrorist enclaves located in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza.
The military said troops of the 192 Battalion, Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, received the surrendering group and recovered ₦1.54 million, two Tecno mobile phones and other items from them.
The statement added that troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion also rescued two abducted victims from a terrorist hideout in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, recovering ₦1.2 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities, along with food supplies and logistics materials.
The rescued victims were evacuated to a safe location where they are receiving medical attention and psychosocial support.
In another operation, troops arrested a suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics supplier at the Molai checkpoint after discovering large quantities of medical supplies allegedly being transported without proper clearance.
The military also disclosed that troops at the Forward Operating Base, Logomani, in Ngala Local Government Area successfully repelled an attack by ISWAP terrorists.
Although the insurgents briefly breached part of the base’s defence line during the attack, the troops regrouped and launched a counter-offensive that forced the attackers to retreat. One soldier was killed during the confrontation, while two gun trucks and other military equipment were damaged.
The army said the base remains under the control of Operation Hadin Kai, with reinforcements deployed and further security measures being implemented.
Meanwhile, troops in Adamawa State arrested a suspected criminal in Gombi Local Government Area following intelligence reports. The operation led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of ammunition.
The military also announced the arrest of two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, with recovered items including cash, a Volkswagen Golf car, construction materials and other supplies believed to be linked to terrorist activities.
Operation Hadin Kai further recorded another success during a clearance operation around Wulgo, where troops recovered a sack containing illicit drugs abandoned by fleeing terrorists.
The military said the latest operations demonstrate the impact of intelligence-led missions and collaboration with local security groups in disrupting terrorist networks and protecting communities in the North-East.
It warned individuals providing support, transportation, food, fuel or other resources to terrorist groups to stop immediately, stressing that anyone found aiding insurgents would be identified, arrested
