Suspected ISWAP gunboat operator surrenders, quarantined, treated 

A suspected fighter of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) trained as a gunboat operator has surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army in Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.

The development was contained in a post shared on X on Thursday by security analyst Zagazola Makama.

According to the post, the suspect surrendered to troops of the 5 Brigade at about 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

Preliminary findings showed that the fighter escaped from an ISWAP camp in Barra Village, located in the Lake Chad region near Dogon Chukwu. The camp was said to be under the control of a terrorist commander identified as Abu Ubeida.

“During an initial debriefing, the surrendered insurgent reportedly told troops that he had been trained to operate gunboats and also handled a Dushka heavy machine gun during terrorist operations around the Lake Chad area,” Makama wrote.

He said he decided to flee the camp because of sustained military air strikes on terrorist hideouts, which he claimed had disrupted the group’s activities and made it increasingly difficult for members to survive.

Following his surrender, the suspect was placed in quarantine in line with military procedures. He was also given food and medical attention.

The report added that he remains in military custody, where he is undergoing profiling, intelligence debriefing and other administrative procedures.

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