A suspected member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly surrendered to Nigerian Army troops alongside his wife and sons in Borno State after escaping from an insurgent enclave in the Mandara Mountains.
The surrender occurred at approximately 3:54 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the Forward Operating Base in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area. The family reportedly presented themselves to personnel of the 192 Battalion (Motorised), operating under the 26 Task Force Brigade.
According to security sources cited by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama on Friday, preliminary investigations indicated that the family had fled the Wuja enclave in the Mandara Mountains before approaching the troops.
The sources disclosed that one mobile phone was recovered during the surrender. However, the identity of the suspected ISWAP member, the number and ages of his sons, and the circumstances that prompted the family's departure were not immediately disclosed.
The development comes amid continuing military operations against insurgent groups in Nigeria's North-East, where security forces have been targeting armed groups operating in remote communities and mountainous areas.
Similar surrenders have been reported in recent months, involving suspected insurgents and their family members who fled armed group enclaves in Borno State.
On October 16, a suspected ISWAP fighter reportedly surrendered with his wife and son to troops in Bama Local Government Area after escaping from an enclave near Bula Daloye. Security sources attributed that earlier surrender to internal disputes and logistical difficulties.
The latest incident in Pulka represents a separate development, although both occurred amid ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the state.
As of Friday, October 23, the Nigerian Army had not publicly issued a detailed statement confirming the latest surrender or explaining the next steps for the family.
The reported affiliation of the man with ISWAP remains subject to further verification, while the presence of his wife and children does not establish their involvement in terrorist activities.
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