Eleven suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have surrendered to Nigerian troops in Borno State, as security forces intensified offensive operations that also left eight militants dead and led to the arrest of two alleged logistics suppliers.
The developments were confirmed on Sunday by the media information officer of the joint task force, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, who said the surrendering fighters handed over AK-47 rifles and assorted ammunition.
According to the military, sustained pressure under Operation Desert Sanity V along the Azir–Wajiroko axis on 10 January forced the fighters to lay down their arms. “Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have maintained intense offensive operations against Boko Haram/Iswap terrorists across Borno State, recording notable successes in clearance, fighting patrols and blocking operations,” the statement said.
A day earlier, soldiers carried out clearance operations in the Bulaagalda cluster, targeting active insurgent enclaves at Dagumba, Bonne, Yaganari, Gosuri and Umchile. Among those dismantled were camps linked to notorious commanders known as Abu Nazir and Abu Ahmed.
During the raids, troops destroyed what the military described as “life-support structures”, disrupted insurgent logistics and recovered items including weapons, magazines and terrorist flags. Similar operations in the Yale and Bula Gaida areas forced militants to flee, leading to the destruction of additional logistics facilities and the seizure of arms, ammunition and a general-purpose machine gun.
In a separate operation based on intelligence reports, troops engaged suspected jihadist fighters between Sojiri and Kayamla villages, killing eight militants and recovering AK-47 rifles. Two suspected logistics collaborators were also arrested in Gubio local government area for allegedly supplying materials to insurgents.
Uba said troops remained “resolute in sustaining offensive pressure, dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the north-east”.
The latest operations follow the interception of a Peugeot vehicle at the Cameroon–Nigeria border carrying six bags of urea fertiliser, a substance frequently used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices. Further intelligence led to the arrest of the fertiliser dealer and the seizure of an additional six bags, bringing the total recovered to 12.
“All suspects and recovered items are currently in custody for further investigation and necessary legal action,” the military said, as security forces continue efforts to choke off insurgent supply lines in the region.
