ISWAP fighter’s wife surrenders to troops with her two-month-old baby in Borno

A woman identified as the wife of an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighter has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai with her two-month-old baby in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. 

The woman, identified as Falmata Bakwai, surrendered to troops of the 19 Brigade at Cross Kauwa at about 10:15 a.m. on June 26, 2026.

Falmata said she escaped from the ISWAP enclave at Dogon Chuku while her husband and other fighters were away from the camp.

During preliminary debriefing, she reportedly told the troops that deteriorating living conditions within the terrorist enclave, including severe shortages of food and other basic necessities, compelled her to flee.

She attributed the worsening humanitarian conditions in the camp to sustained military strangulation operations and aerial bombardments targeting terrorist hideouts.

She and her infant have since been quarantined and provided with medical assistance in line with established operational procedures.

Military authorities said debriefing is ongoing, while arrangements are being made to transfer her to the Headquarters of Sector 3, Operation Hadin Kai/Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), for further investigation and profiling.

Security sources noted that the surrender reflects the sustained pressure being mounted on terrorist enclaves through coordinated ground and air operations across the North-East theatre.