MAIDUGURI — For two senior commanders of the terrorist group, the war is over. They walked into a Nigerian Army forward operating base in Borno State last week and laid down their weapons.
The surrenders, confirmed by military sources on Friday, represent a rare and significant blow to the terror organisation that has plagued Nigeria’s northeast for years. In a separate operation, military forces also killed a senior ISWAP leader whose name has not yet been officially released.
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Breaking From the Inside
Military sources say the surrendered commanders cited internal divisions, dwindling resources, and growing pressure from ongoing military offensives as their reasons for giving up. One commander reportedly lost several fighters in a recent airstrike and had been unable to resupply.
“This is what sustained pressure looks like,” said a senior defence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “When they lose confidence in the organisation’s survival, they start to walk out.”
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Families Still Bearing the Cost
In Borno’s villages, news of the surrenders offered some comfort but little closure. Families who lost members to ISWAP attacks over the years say surrenders mean nothing without justice
Hajiya Asabe Modu, whose son was killed in an ISWAP raid on their farming community in 2024, sat quietly when she heard the news. “Will they bring back my son?” she asked. “No. So what does it matter to me?”
Bigger Picture
The Nigerian military says it has neutralised over 13,000 terrorists since 2023. Officials say the northeast security situation has improved substantially. However, communities in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states say attacks continue, though at lower frequency than before.
