A group of three ISWAP insurgents turned themselves in to Nigerian soldiers stationed in Damasak, Borno State. The individuals stated they could no longer endure the persistent military strikes against their positions. Reports from security insiders to Zagazola Makama confirmed the men surrendered to the 5 Brigade headquarters around 4:50 pm on July 28 as part of Operation Hadin Kai.
The men were identified as 24-year-old Abba Musa Dogo, 28-year-old Abubakar Bargaji, and 16-year-old Ibrahim Abubakar. They escaped from militant camps located in Sabon Gari and Tunbun Mota, areas overseen by ISWAP leaders Abu Fatima and Abu Ayuba. The suspects explained that ongoing aerial and ground offensives by the Nigerian military made it nearly impossible to sustain their operations or survive in the field.
During initial interrogations, the trio disclosed that they were trained as anti-aircraft gunners and gunboat operators for missions near Lake Chad. They also revealed that commanders maintained tight oversight of armaments, issuing weapons only for specific tasks and reclaiming them immediately afterward. The men remain in military custody for investigation and further screening, expressing a desire to renounce the insurgency and pursue a peaceful life.
