No fewer than 47 individuals associated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Sector 3, Nigeria, on Thursday.
Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief Military Public Information Officer in N’djamena, Chad, made the announcement in a statement issued in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
The group consisted of seven men, nine women, and 31 children. Abdullahi stated that the former terrorists’ families, after spending years with the group, returned to Kwatan Turare and Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno State.
Initial investigations revealed that the surrendered individuals escaped from Sharama, located in the Lake Chad Islands. Among them was Mallam Muazu Adamu, a known fighter with the Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS) faction, who surrendered with his wife.
Abdullahi added that other members disclosed they were farmers before escaping. They surrendered with clothes, blankets, mats, pots, plates, and other personal belongings.
The surrendered individuals are currently in custody undergoing further investigation to determine their activities and affiliations.
The MNJTF remains committed to maintaining peace and security in the Lake Chad basin region, according to Abdullahi.
“This development marks a step in the ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of terrorist groups in the region.
“The MNJTF continues to encourage those still involved in terrorist activities to surrender and embrace peace,” he said.
