metro

Why 104 More ISWAP Fighters Surrendered

Published

5 years ago

February 8, 2022

An additional 104 fighters loyal to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered in Borno State, the military said on Monday, citing increased bombardment by ground troops and air force as the reason.

The military authorities explained that the fighters and members of their families surrendered to the 25 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Damboa, Borno State.

According to the military on its official Facebook page, those that surrendered were 22 males, 27 females and 55 children, noting that they took the decisions following persistent troops’ operations.

It said the deadly assaults on the terrorists by the military forced the fighters and their families out of hiding. Damboa is approximately 90km southwest of Maiduguri, the state capital and is in the southern part of Borno State.

Daily Trust reports that recently, the attention of political and military leaders had shifted to southern Borno following increased terrorists’ activities around Damboa, Chibok and Askira Uba, among others following the massive relocation of ISWAP fighters from northern Borno and the fringes of the Lake Chad.

Credible sources told Daily Trust that the terrorists were finding it easy to manoeuvre their way back to Sambisa or Alagarno forests whenever they launched attacks on nearby locations in the affected LGAs.

It was around Askira Uba that Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkushu, the commander of the 28 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army and three other officers were killed in November last year when they were ambushed by the terrorists.

READ ALSO:

‘It’s a new dawn for us’

A military source told one of our correspondents last night that more terrorists and their families would surrender in the coming days because they have no option.

“Sustained operation is ongoing. Take it from me; it will never be the same because a lot of factors hampering our operations have been addressed,” he said.

“It is now dry season and the visibility is clearer. Also, our Super Tucano jets and other fighting equipment have been deployed to both northern and southern Borno.

“And as you can see, the actual fighters from the 104 that surrendered are not more than 25; the rest are vulnerable women and children and this is what is slowing massive bombardment.

“It will not be good to kill the vulnerable and that is why the operation is taking longer time. But then, you can see them coming out from their hideouts because they know the situation is no longer the same.

“We have neutralised scores of ISWAP commanders especially around the shores of Lake Chad in the last few days.

“Their massive relocation to southern Borno from northern Borno following sustained operation has further weakened them,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that since June 2021, hundreds of Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered following the killing of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, in May of the same year.

Also, the killing of ISWAP leader Abu Musab Albarnawi and those who took over from him in succession has thrown the group into disarray with barely a central command.

Sources said many of the frontline commanders have dropped their arms with some of them being rehabilitated by Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe camp and other places.

On July 30, 2021, the Nigerian Army said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai took custody of 91 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and their families who surrendered in the North East.

Similarly, in August 2021, the Army through its spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, a Brigadier-General, disclosed that 56 terrorists and their families laid down their arms.

READ ALSO:

In September 2021, the Nigerian military high command said 8,000 Boko Haram commanders, fighters, and their family members had surrendered since June 2021.

‘Terrorists likely behind Okene police station attack’

Terrorists were likely responsible for the attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters in Okene, Kogi State in the late hours of Sunday, Daily Trust learnt.

Authorities and locals said the attackers were chanting religious incantations during the attack.

Some of the sources said the attackers wanted to seize the opportunity to steal arms in the station.

The Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, William Aya, said the state Police Commissioner, Edward Ebuka, had drafted a crack team from the headquarters to trail and arrest the perpetrators.

In a statement made available to Daily Trust on Monday in Lokoja, he said: “On February 6 at about 2200hrs, some armed hoodlums attacked the Okene Area Command Headquarters with sporadic gunshots and explosives chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’.

“The officers on duty gallantly repelled the hoodlums, shot dead one of them which forced them to flee before the arrival of backup teams from neighbouring divisions.”

It was learnt that the hoodlums went to the town on motorbikes and rode straight to the police area command headquarters with explosives and other dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically.

“The attack has the hallmark of how terrorists operate,” one of our sources said.

“The Boko Haram, the ISWAP and Ansaru fighters raid security formations to get arms. And let me remind you that in the last 10 years or thereabouts, we have picked many Boko Haram and Ansaru fighters in Kogi State.

“They capitalise on the relative peace in the state to hibernate. Abu Dardaa, who is in our custody after his arrest in Kaduna, has a lot of contacts in Kogi,” he said.

“The truth is that Kogi deserves special attention because of its proximity to Abuja and other states,” another source said.

“Some of these miscreants hide there. Even though they rarely launch an attack there, they organise criminal activities from there. What happened yesterday was surprising,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government has commended the gallantry of the police operatives, hunters and others who repelled the attack on the Okene police divisional headquarters.

A statement by Kinsley Fanwo, Commissioner of Information and Communication, said 30 hoodlums armed to the teeth invaded the station.

Daily Trust reports that in April 2016, Khalid al-Barnawi, the leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group, Ansaru, was captured at a facility in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. He is still in detention.

The United States had placed a $5m (£3.5m) bounty on his head after branding him one of three Nigerian “specially designated global terrorists” in 2012.

Ansaru is a splinter group of Boko Haram.

Abductors of Kaduna Catholic priest demand N60m

Abductors of a Catholic Priest in Chawai Chiefdom in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded N60m, Daily Trust gathered.

Reverend Father Joseph Danjuma Shekari was abducted in the parish house located in Chawai, Kauru LGA on Sunday night.

A source from the community who spoke with Daily Trust said when they called the priest’s number on Monday, the abductors said they would only release the cleric if paid N60m.

It was gathered that his aide, Mr Sati Musa, was shot dead by the abductors who stormed the house between 10 and 11 pm.

The 20-year-old Musa was a student of St. Monica’s Secondary School Ikulu-Pari, Chawai who was preparing to write final year exams.

A statement signed by the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Bishop Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo, called for serious prayers for the release of the clergy and urged the people to refrain from taking laws into their hands.

The Catholic priest is the fifth priest abducted in Southern Kaduna between 2021 and now.

Daily Trust

Related Topics:Featured fighters ISWAP surrendered

Up Next

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, panic buying in Lagos

Don't Miss

Terrorists strike again, kill 44 villagers in Niger

metro

EFCC Wins ₦132m Money Laundering Case as Court Orders Forfeiture of Lagos Properties

Published

14 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos-based businessman Onatayo Pelumi

EFCC Wins ₦132m Money Laundering Case as Court Orders Forfeiture of Lagos Properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Lagos-based businessman Onatayo Pelumi over alleged money laundering involving approximately ₦132 million, with the Federal High Court in Lagos ordering the forfeiture of two properties and ₦8 million to the Federal Government.

Justice Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, convicted Pelumi on five counts relating to the retention of proceeds of unlawful activities in bank accounts maintained with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Zenith Bank.

According to the EFCC, the charges covered various sums allegedly retained in the accounts between January 2023 and June 2026, despite the defendant’s knowledge that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

The commission did not provide further details about the specific unlawful activities from which the money was allegedly derived.

In his judgment, Justice Osiagor sentenced Pelumi to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine, on the first count.

READ ALSO:

For each of the remaining four counts, the court imposed five years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine per count.

However, the judge directed that all the prison terms run concurrently, meaning they are served at the same time rather than consecutively.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of two half-plots of land in Lagos and ₦8 million held in Pelumi’s Zenith Bank account to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The properties covered by the forfeiture order are a half-plot of land at No. 23 Michael Ayorinde Street, Abule-Egba, and another half-plot at No. 1 Yisa Street, Meiran, both in Lagos State.

In addition to the prison sentences and forfeiture orders, Pelumi was directed to undertake seven days of community service.

The conviction followed prosecution by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 as part of its efforts to investigate and prosecute financial crimes involving the retention of funds linked to unlawful activities.

The case also highlights the commission’s use of asset-forfeiture proceedings to recover money and property connected to financial crime cases.

The EFCC did not disclose additional details about the source of the funds beyond the allegations contained in the five-count charge.

EFCC Wins ₦132m Money Laundering Case as Court Orders Forfeiture of Lagos Properties

metro

Hardship: ACF Gives Tinubu Three Months to Deliver Relief, Demands Clear Timelines

Published

14 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba

Hardship: ACF Gives Tinubu Three Months to Deliver Relief, Demands Clear Timelines

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce measures to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians within three months, while demanding clear timelines and measurable targets for improving living conditions.

The forum said the Federal Government should move beyond repeated assurances that economic conditions would improve and provide specific commitments showing when Nigerians could begin to experience meaningful relief.

The ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, made the call during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to media reports.

Mohammed-Baba said the administration needed to be more transparent about the effects of its economic reforms and acknowledge areas where the outcomes had fallen short of expectations.

He argued that government policies should be assessed not only by their stated objectives but also by their effects on households, businesses and the wider population.

The ACF spokesman cited the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, increasing rents, higher transportation expenses and electricity bills as some of the pressures confronting Nigerians. He also identified poor road infrastructure and persistent insecurity as challenges affecting citizens’ welfare.

READ ALSO:

According to him, the government should explain how it intends to address these problems and establish clear benchmarks against which its performance can be measured.

Mohammed-Baba called on the Tinubu administration to outline what it expects to achieve within one, two and three years, arguing that measurable targets would enable Nigerians to assess progress rather than rely solely on official assurances.

He also urged the government to acknowledge the difficulties associated with its economic policies and communicate more openly with citizens about the challenges and expected outcomes.

The ACF spokesman maintained that the government should not expect Nigerians to endure prolonged hardship without a clear indication of when relief measures would take effect.

He said three months should be enough for the administration to introduce measures capable of reducing some of the immediate pressures on households, even if broader economic recovery would require more time.

The forum also called for greater accountability from political leaders, arguing that the sacrifices demanded of citizens should be matched by a commitment from public officials to responsible governance and improved service delivery.

Mohammed-Baba’s comments add to the ongoing debate over the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the pressure that higher living costs have placed on households and small businesses.

The government has defended its reforms as necessary to address longstanding economic challenges. However, the ACF’s position underscores the need for clear communication about the expected benefits of the policies and practical measures to cushion their immediate effects.

On the 2027 general elections, Mohammed-Baba said the ACF would assess political parties and candidates based on their commitment to good governance, accountability, anti-corruption, equity and fairness.

He said the forum’s position would be guided by the quality of leadership and the ability of political actors to promote responsible governance rather than automatic support for any particular political party.

The ACF’s central demand is for the Federal Government to establish clear deadlines, measurable objectives and practical steps for reducing hardship, enabling Nigerians to judge progress by tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Hardship: ACF Gives Tinubu Three Months to Deliver Relief, Demands Clear Timelines

metro

Adamawa Mourns as Fufore Loses Second Council Chairman in 18 Months

Published

14 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Late Chairman of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Dr Yahaya Sa’idu

Adamawa Mourns as Fufore Loses Second Council Chairman in 18 Months

The Chairman of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Dr Yahaya Sa’idu, has died less than three months after assuming office, in a development that has plunged the council and its residents into mourning.

Sa’idu reportedly died at a hospital in Kaduna following a brief illness. According to Ahmed B. Yusha’u, the council’s Information Officer, the chairman died at about 1 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

His death came approximately 18 months after his predecessor, Shuaibu Babas, also died while serving as chairman of the council, making the latest development another significant loss for the Fufore community.

The news of Sa’idu’s death was confirmed in a condolence message by Aliyu Boya Wakili, the member of the House of Representatives representing Fufore/Song Federal Constituency.

Wakili expressed sadness over the death, describing it as a major loss to the people of Fufore and Adamawa State. He prayed for Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings, accept his good deeds and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

He also extended condolences to the late chairman’s family, associates and constituents, urging them to find strength and comfort during the difficult period.

READ ALSO:

The Adamawa State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) also mourned Sa’idu’s death. The association’s state chairman, Titus Obadiah, described him as a committed leader who served his community.

Obadiah sympathised with the bereaved family, friends, political associates and residents of Fufore, praying for comfort and strength for everyone affected by the loss.

The Adamawa State Police Command also expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, the Fufore community and the state government. The condolence message was signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje.

Other political figures who reportedly mourned Sa’idu included Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District, and Ahmad Lawan, a senior special assistant on security to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Sa’idu was sworn in as Fufore local government chairman on July 15, 2026, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His death occurred less than three months after he began his tenure.

His predecessor, Shuaibu Babas, died on April 23, 2025, while in office. Babas’s death was followed by a succession process that eventually led to his deputy, Peace Samson Audu, being sworn in as substantive chairman in May 2025.

The successive deaths have prompted fresh expressions of grief among political stakeholders and residents of Fufore, who are mourning the loss of two council leaders within approximately 18 months.

As tributes continue to emerge, details of Sa’idu’s funeral arrangements were yet to be formally confirmed in the reports available at the time of publication.

The circumstances surrounding his reported brief illness have not been publicly detailed beyond the information provided by the council’s Information Officer.