At least 25 members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Boko Haram faction, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), have surrendered to Nigerian Army troops in Bama, Borno State.
A military source told The Nation that the army also arrested 17 criminal suspects and recovered assorted weapons and equipment in recent coordinated operations across the country.
The source said, “On 11 August 2025, troops of 202 Battalion in Bama Local Government, Borno State, received 25 ISWAP/JAS family members, comprising 12 adult females and 13 children, who surrendered from Zalmari, Gazuwa, and Alafa villages. The surrendered persons are undergoing further profiling by 21 Special Armoured Brigade.”
On the same day, troops of 233 Battalion in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force ambushed terrorists along Sassawa–Kaburu in Damaturu Local Government, Yobe State, killing one terrorist and recovering an AK-47 rifle.
In Zamfara, troops of 1 Brigade Combat Team 5 repelled a planned terrorist attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Galadi in Shinkafi Local Government Area, neutralizing one assailant and seizing a mobile phone.
The source also disclosed that on 12 August, acting on intelligence from a rescued kidnap victim, troops stormed Gremasa Mountain in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, arresting eight suspected kidnappers.
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE Sector 3 Forward Operating Base Wukari, Taraba State, apprehended two suspected kidnap collaborators, while troops of Sector 4 Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested five pipeline vandals in Plateau State.
On 13 August, troops of 34 Artillery Brigade raided an IPOB/ESN camp at Ndeji Community, a border area between Anambra, Abia, and Imo States. One criminal was neutralized and troops recovered a pistol with ammunition, cartridges, radios, IED components, mobile phones, and other items. Two planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were also safely destroyed by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.