A high-ranking commander of Boko Haram, Khaid Malam Ali, along with his lieutenant Bunu Umar, has surrendered to the troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the northeastern part of Borno State. Ali and his fighters were reportedly displaced by the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) following an attack on Boko Haram hideouts in Bula Alhaji Garwaye, near the Sambisa forest on July 5, 2023.
According to sources, Ali served as a commander in the Sabil Huda and Njumia areas. He decided to surrender due to the fear of being eliminated in the battlefield.
Last week, ISWAP carried out an operation that resulted in the deaths of several Boko Haram fighters, including women and children.
In another development, the Nigerian government is preparing to commence the trial of around 2,000 detained Boko Haram members involved in terrorist activities. The trial will be conducted by a team of eight judges in Kainji, Niger State, within a secure environment provided by Operation Safe Corridor, a special security group. Many of the suspects are already being held at the detention facility in Kainji.
Although the trial plans were established during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, logistical challenges have caused delays. The Ministry of Justice had requested transportation support from the Nigerian Air Force for the judges and lawyers involved in the proceedings, but the request was not fulfilled, resulting in a setback to the start of the trials.
