76 Terrorists, Family Members Surrender as Military Intensifies Offensive in North-East

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

A total of 76 terrorist foot soldiers and some of their family members, including a fresh group of top Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders, have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI following sustained military offensives across the North-East.

According to a statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the latest surrender was driven by intensified counter-terrorism operations backed by credible, timely and actionable intelligence. The military said the senior ISWAP leaders abandoned their enclaves after sustained pressure from troops degraded the group’s operational capacity.

The statement said the surrendered commanders are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other established procedures in line with extant operational protocols. It added that the latest development reflects the success of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt command and logistics structures, and deny insurgents freedom of action across the theatre.

The military noted that persistent offensives have significantly weakened the combat capability of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters while eroding confidence within their ranks and leadership. It attributed the successes to a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy that combines precision combat operations, intelligence-led missions and coordinated joint efforts with other security partners.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on the remaining terrorist elements until they are completely neutralised or compelled to surrender, as part of efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.