No fewer than 17 persons linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, including terrorist family members and a suspected fighter, have surrendered to the Nigerian military in different parts of Borno State.

Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, disclosed that the individuals surrendered across Dikwa, Bama and Ngala Local Government Areas between September 19 and 25.

Makama said a woman identified as a terrorist family member surrendered herself and her two children to troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade at Checkpoint 1 along the Dikwa-Ajiri Road on September 19.

Another woman and her child also surrendered at the same checkpoint after reportedly escaping from the Yaganari terrorist enclave to Gonori Village in Mafa Local Government Area following factional clashes.

The woman reportedly disclosed that her husband, Bakura Modu, was an ISWAP fighter.

Later that day, three other terrorist family members surrendered to troops of the 151 Battalion at Bula Daloye in Bama Local Government Area.

On September 24, a suspected terrorist surrendered to troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade after reportedly escaping from a camp in Gargash.

Seven other terrorist family members subsequently surrendered to troops of the 3 Mechanised Battalion at the Arabic IDP Camp in Ngala.

In the latest incident on September 25, a woman from Bula Daloye and her son reportedly surrendered to troops in Bama. Preliminary investigation indicated that she had escaped from a terrorist camp in Bula Daloye following internal disagreements and hardship within the enclave.

The woman reportedly disclosed that her husband, Ibrahim Usman, was a terrorist fighter.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as recent successes against terrorism and banditry.

In an interview, Agbese praised the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, and the military chiefs for what he described as effective and strategic operational leadership.

According to the lawmaker, recent operations in the North-East and North-West demonstrated a shift from a largely reactive approach to sustained offensives targeting terrorist formations, logistics networks and support structures.

Agbese attributed the reported gains to improved intelligence, air and ground operations, as well as greater coordination among the military services and other security agencies.