His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, the First Class Emir of the Gwoza Local Government Area in Borno State, announced on Friday that Mallam Yathabalwe, the most wanted Boko Haram commander who has been terrorising Gwoza and the surrounding Mandara Mountain communities, has turned himself in to the forces of “Operation Hadin Kai” in the northeast.
Before giving up, according to sources, Yathabalwe was responsible for a number of attacks and killings, including the massacre of farmers on their farms, leaving farmers in Gwoza town and its surroundings to fend for themselves.
Notably, this was not the first time the senior Boko Haram commander had submitted; on another occasion, he had put down his weapons but subsequently re-joined the terrorist organisation.
“We are happy to inform you and confirm that Mallam Yathabalwe, the most wanted commander of Boko Haram, who has been terrorising Gwoza and other surrounding Mandara Mountain communities in my domain, has surrendered to troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ in the North East,” said HRH Alhaji Timta, the monarch of Gwoza, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent.
On Friday morning, he voluntarily emerged from his hiding place with two AK-47 guns and some ammunition. Following his surrender to the military in Gwoza, he might be transported to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, for additional interrogation or action.
“For many years prior to their capitulation, Yathabalwe terrorised my people, particularly by making it extremely difficult for farmers to access their farmlands.”
“We hope that Gwoza and its surroundings will experience complete peace again with this new development,” the First Class Emir stated.