Top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and 76 of its foot soldiers, along with members of their families, have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Nigeria’s North-East, following sustained military offensives against terrorist groups in the region.
The development was confirmed by the Acting Military Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammad Goni, in a statement issued on Sunday night.
According to Goni, the terrorists voluntarily laid down their arms and abandoned their enclaves after coming under intense and continuous military pressure.
“The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, has continued to record significant operational successes in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists through sustained operations backed by credible, timely and actionable intelligence,” the statement said.
He disclosed that the latest surrender involved senior ISWAP commanders who decided to abandon the insurgent group due to the relentless military offensive across the North-East theatre.
The surrendered leaders are currently being held at a secure location, where they are undergoing profiling, debriefing and other necessary procedures in line with established operational guidelines.
Goni further revealed that, in addition to the senior commanders, 76 ISWAP foot soldiers and some of their family members also surrendered to troops within the past week.
He said the latest development underscores the effectiveness of the military’s ongoing operations, which have continued to weaken terrorist strongholds, disrupt their logistics and command structures, and limit their operational capabilities.
According to him, the sustained offensives have significantly degraded the fighting capacity of the insurgents while also diminishing confidence among their leadership and rank-and-file members.
“The persistent military operations have continued to degrade the terrorists’ combat capabilities while eroding confidence within their ranks and leadership,” he stated.
Goni noted that the success reflects the Nigerian military’s comprehensive counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy, which combines precision combat operations, intelligence-driven engagements and coordinated efforts with other security partners.
He reaffirmed that Operation Hadin Kai remains committed to eliminating terrorism and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
“The pressure on the remaining terrorist elements will continue unabated until they are completely neutralised or forced to surrender,” the statement added.
