16 ISWAP Members Surrender To Troops, As One Soldier Dies

The Nigerian Army says sixteen Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) members have surrendered to troops of Sector 1, Multinational Joint Task Force at Fotokol in Borno State as one soldier paid the supreme price during the operation. Hide quoted text

Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator in a statement said the 16 ISWAP members along with 8 of their spouses who could no longer bear the heat from the onslaught against them surrendered to the relentless troops. 

Iliyasu said during the operation which witnessed the interception and arrest of several Boko Haram Logistics Suppliers and informants by the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE as well as the arrest and neutralisation of some bandits and other criminal elements in the North West and other parts of the nation. 

According to him, the surrendered insurgents were later handed over to troops of 3 Battalion (Main) at Gamboru Ngala, a border town North East of Borno State. 

He said during preliminary interrogation and profiling, the ISWAP members confessed to have actively participated in attacks conducted against both military and civilian targets at various times. 

Some of the surrendered members according to the army revealed that 14 of them whose names are Ibrahim Bunu, Abba Sale, Baba Lamba Alhaji, Bukar Isa, Bukar Ali, Rawa Abba Gana, Mustapha Abatcha, Umar Abubakar, Hassan Bukar, Malam Abatcha Ali, Abba Umar Abatcha, Hussaini Babagana, Idris Mohammed and Umar Abba Bayoma all belonged to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) led by Al – Barnawi while the remaining 2, Hassan Kawu and Babagana Bukar Adijabe belonged to Boko Haram (Abubakar Shekau Faction). 

He said: “The repentant insurgents however, regretted their participation in the heinous crimes they committed against humanity and are now calling on their former colleagues to retrace their steps and also surrender to troops before it is too late.”

In a related development, troops deployed at Gajigana in Magumeri LGA of Borno State intercepted some Boko Haram criminals in the early hours of Tuesday 5th November 2019.

According to the statement, the insurgents were on their way to attack the community to source for food items and other logistics for their survival, adding that the vigilant troops blocked and neutralised 3 of the Boko Haram criminals while several others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

He added that during the onslaught, one soldier paid the supreme price while 2 others were wounded in action, adding that the wounded soldiers are currently responding to treatment in a military medical facility. 

Items recovered from them include, 2 AK 47 Rifles, one Rocket Propelled Gun 7 (RPG 7), 5 AK 47 magazines, 47 Rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and some quantities of hard drugs during exploitation. 

In a related incident, another Boko Haram criminal met his waterloo on 4th November 2019 while attempting to cross into the Sambisa Forest at Bama – Banki Road Junction when own troops sighted and neutralized him.