No fewer than 443 more Boko Haram (BH) terrorists and their family members who escaped attacks by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State, North East Nigeria, have surrendered to Nigerian and MNJTF troops. This is as the death toll on the BH members following military bombardments and clashes with ISWAP has risen to 300.
A total of 223 of the Boko Haram elements surrendered to the troops of Sector 3 Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Diffa and Gueskerou in the Republic of Niger between 7 and 10th March 2023. Another 220 terrorists surrendered to the troops of Joint Task Force (North East ) Operation Hadin Kai on March 10. Sources familiar with the surrender stated that the terrorists cited ongoing heavy bombardments by the Nigerian military plus intensive clashes with ISWAP fighters, as the reason for their surrender.
Since February 27, 2023, Boko Haram had been fleeing their enclaves in droves, following ground and air operations by the MNJTF and the JTF Op Hadin Kai. The group has also been at the receiving end of deadly attacks in Gaizuwa, otherwise known as Mantari, Gabchari, Kashimiri, Maimusari in Bama, Yale in Konduga and Magumeri, by their former allies now turned bitter adversary. In one of such attacks led by three notorious ISWAP Commanders, comprising Mallam Abubakar Maina, Qaed Malam Dahiru, Qaed Abu Amir in Guzamala, over 200 Boko Haram militant jihadists, including their women and children were eliminated.
The onslaught against the group continued on the 8th March 2023, when more than 100 of them were killed in the fringes of Baga, Marte and Dikwa. This time, the terrorists targeted only the men, sparing their families. Furthermore, a recent Press Release by the Government of the Republic of Niger, said that the week was marked by displacement of several groups of families of terrorists leaving the Sambisa forest for Lake Chad on the Niger side.
The Director, Defence Media Operations o
at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Major General Musa Danmadami, placed the number of surrendered Boko Haram members within the last two weeks at 1,332. This figure has however increased in the following days.
It remains to be seen how the deadly rivalry between Boko Haram and their erstwhile partners in battle, ISWAP, will shape the dynamics of the more than a decade-long bloody insurgency in North East region.
Additional information: Zagazola Makama
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