On November 6, 2026, a 35-year-old woman and her two young daughters turned themselves in to the Nigerian Army in Borno State after successfully escaping from a suspected Boko Haram stronghold. The mother, named Maryam Modu, walked away from the militant camp alongside her children, five-year-old Zainab and one-year-old Fatima, seeking safety amid escalating internal militant violence and severe scarcity.
How did the surrender happen?
The escapees made contact with military personnel during a routine patrol conducted by the 202 Battalion, operating under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade and Sector 1 Defence Company. The encounter took place approximately at 4:10 p.m. as the troops secured the area.
Initial questioning by security personnel indicated that the family decided to flee the Zarmari Bula Daloye insurgent camp due to relentless assaults by rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) combatants, compounded by extreme destitution and suffering inside the enclave.
What led to their escape?
According to intelligence gathered during preliminary debriefings, Maryam disclosed that her husband lost his life approximately nine months prior, having been executed by ISWAP elements during factional skirmishes.
Following their reception by the military, the mother and her daughters underwent standard security screening and official documentation procedures. Authorities confirmed that they remain in military custody as officials determine subsequent steps for their rehabilitation and reintegration.