Four persons identified as family members of terrorists have escaped from insurgent enclaves in the Mandara Mountains and surrendered or been intercepted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

A 15-year-old boy named Idi Musa was intercepted at about 6:25 a.m. on August 9 by troops of 192 Battalion along the Gwoza–Limankara road. He said he had been abducted about two years earlier while picking mangoes near Dala Village and was forced to cook for other captives in the camp.

Later the same morning, three other people, 20-year-old Binta Idrisa, 18-year-old Amina Muhammadu and a two-year-old child named Musa Alhaji surrendered to the same battalion. They had escaped from a terrorist enclave in Chikide within the Mandara Mountains.

The three reportedly fled because of the lack of basic necessities in the camp. Troops recovered one mobile phone from the teenager and ₦9,500 from the other group.

All four were screened, documented and remain in military custody for further action. The incidents reflect the growing pressure on terrorist camps in the Mandara Mountains as military operations continue across the Gwoza axis.

Photo credit: Zagazola Makoma