Two teenage terrorists surrender as troops rescue 11-year-old captive

Two teenagers have surrendered to troops in Monguno, Borno State, while an 11-year-old girl allegedly taken for a spying mission has escaped to soldiers during a patrol in Gwoza.

Umar Mohammed, 17, and Aliu Hassan, 13, surrendered at about 7:15 a.m. on Sept. 4 to troops deployed at Charlie 7 in Monguno town. They reportedly handed over one wristwatch and a catapult. Security sources said preliminary questioning indicated that the boys had escaped from a terrorist camp in Martab, in Marte Local Government Area, because of harsh living conditions.

The youths and the recovered items were placed in the custody of the Sector 3 Military Intelligence Branch for further action. A source described the surrender as part of continuing efforts to persuade members of terrorist groups to abandon violence and give themselves up to authorities.

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Preliminary interrogation revealed that the two had escaped from a terrorist camp in Martab, Marte Local Government Area, citing harsh living conditions at the camp.

In a separate operation, troops from the 82 Division Task Force Battalion rescued Aisha Mustafa, 11, at about 1:41 a.m. on Sept. 4 near the Armuda general area. Sources said she was one of three people allegedly taken from Mountain Village of Saha by two suspected terrorists. Investigators believe the group intended to use the victims to monitor troops deployed around Ngoshe. The sources said Aisha ran toward the soldiers when she saw them, while the other two people fled back toward the village. She is receiving assistance as authorities work to reunite her with her family.

Troops from the 101 Special Forces Battalion also arrested Mallam Garba Audi, 60, along the Cross-Kukawa road on Sept. 3. Authorities suspected him of being an Islamic State West Africa Province spy after receiving intelligence about the possible movement of a spy from Monguno toward Kukawa.

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The development adds to ongoing efforts by security forces to encourage members of terrorist groups to abandon violence and surrender to authorities.