Family member of suspected terrorists surrenders to troops with her child in Borno

Two family members of suspected Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, after fleeing a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the escapees, identified as Hadiza Ahmadu, 30, and her son, Ishaku Saleh, 8, surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion (Mechanised) at about 9:50 a.m. on August 2, 2026.

The sources said the duo approached troops during a picketing and fighting patrol along the Gwoza–Limankara Road and voluntarily laid down their intention to leave the terrorist-controlled enclave.

Preliminary investigation revealed that they escaped from the Kwatara terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains, where they had been living under insurgent control.

According to the sources, the escapees told troops they could no longer remain in the enclave due to severe shortages of basic necessities, including food and other essential supplies.

They were subsequently screened, documented and taken into the custody of the 192 Battalion for further profiling and necessary administrative procedures.

Military sources said the surrender reflects the sustained pressure being mounted on terrorist hideouts by Operation HADIN KAI troops, which has continued to weaken insurgent logistics and living conditions within enclaves across the North-East.