Crime

455 Boko Haram/ISWAP Fighters and Families Surrender in Borno

Published by admin on May 24th, 2024.

455 Boko Haram/ISWAP Fighters and Families Surrender in Borno

A total of 550 fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their family members have turned themselves in to the troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State.

According to Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the group included 47 men, 180 women, and 323 children. The surrender took place during operations from May 15 to 21 in the Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Kukawa, and Mobbar Local Government Areas of Borno State.

During these operations, troops recovered a significant cache of weapons, including 19 AK47 rifles, five fabricated guns, 13 magazines, 691 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 241 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, four additional magazines, 11 motorcycles, 15 bicycles, and five mobile phones.

Furthermore, Gen. Buba reported that the troops eliminated 113 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in various offensive operations, ambushes, and patrols conducted from May 13 to 21 in Gwoza, Bama, Madagali, Konduga, Damboa, and Kaga local government areas. The troops also seized 60 AK47 rifles, 19 fabricated rifles, 35 dane guns, two double-barrel guns, one single-barrel gun, one GPMG, 779 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 484 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 76 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 98 live cartridges, four IEDs, two vehicles, one MRAP, and 17 motorcycles.

In addition, the operation resulted in the rescue of 60 kidnap victims.

Gen. Buba further mentioned that on May 14 and 15, following reports, troops apprehended seven suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP collaborators and informants in Geidam and Gujba Local Government Areas of Yobe State, as well as in Mobbar and Kaga LGAs of Borno State.

Between May 15 and 18, troops, in collaboration with hybrid forces, arrested 18 more suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP collaborators and informants in Kukawa, Biu, Gamboru-Ngala, Konduga, and Dikwa LGAs of Borno State. On May 20, 2024, 350 people, including 6 adult men, 135 adult women, and 209 children rescued from ISWAP/JAS strongholds in the Sambisa Forest, were handed over to Mrs. Aisha Zuyera Gana, the Borno State Government Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development.