Teenager escapes Boko Haram enclave, surrenders to troops in Borno

A 16-year-old girl has surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI after escaping from a suspected Boko Haram enclave in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State.

Security sources said the teenager, identified as Amina Ali, surrendered to troops of C Company, 192 Battalion, in Gwoza on July 30 after fleeing the Guduf Bubayagwa enclave.

According to the sources, preliminary interrogation indicated that the teenager escaped the camp because of the harsh living conditions and lack of basic necessities.

She reportedly told troops she could no longer cope with life inside the insurgent hideout and decided to flee in search of safety.

The military subjected her to standard screening and documentation procedures in line with established protocols for individuals escaping from insurgent-controlled territories.

She is currently in military custody, where further profiling and other humanitarian and administrative processes are ongoing.

Military sources said the latest surrender underscores the sustained pressure being mounted on Boko Haram and ISWAP enclaves through ongoing operations under Operation HADIN KAI.

According to the sources, intensified military offensives have disrupted insurgent activities, worsened living conditions in terrorist camps and encouraged more defections and escapes from areas under the control of the groups.

They added that although the security situation across the North-East remains relatively calm, troops have continued intelligence-led and offensive operations to dismantle the remaining terrorist strongholds in the region.