ISWAP fighters seek to dethrone the Nigerian government and install an Islamic caliphate to be ruled from Syria, the jihadist capital.
Nigerian Army says fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) are surrendering to troops, along with their families.
In a Twitter post, the Army says 104 ISWAP fighters have already surrendered to troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.
The surrender of the ISIS fighters is coming barely a week after the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, warns about the danger ISWAP poses to the Nigerian state, saying that they are better equipped and sophisticated to pursue their goal of installing an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria than Boko Haram.
According to the Nigerian Army, the ISWAP fighters surrendered on Saturday, February 5 to the troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa, Borno State.
The tweet reads: “ISWAP fighters and their families numbering 104 comprising 22 males, 27 females and 55 children surrendered to troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa, Borno State on Saturday 5 February 2022.”
Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters have been surrendering in their thousands to Nigerian troops after the government launched an amnesty programme for the terrorists.
At least, 18,000 terrorists have so far surrendered in the scheme, says a news website, Sahara Reporters.
The rate of surrender increased after the death in May of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Shekau blew himself up to avoid capture during infighting with the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction in his Sambisa Forest enclave.
ISWAP split from Boko Haram in 2016 to become a dominant group in Nigeria with ties to the so-called Islamic State.
The news website says many residents of Maiduguri say Boko Haram terrorists are surrendering not out of remorse, but out of fear to escape ISWAP who execute them for failing to give allegiance to the Islamic State.
