Military Records Fresh Breakthrough As ISWAP Commanders Surrender

The military has recorded another breakthrough in the fight against insurgency in the North-East, with top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and 76 foot soldiers, alongside members of their families, surrendering to troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

Naija News reports that the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammad Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

He attributed the mass surrender to sustained military offensives and relentless pressure mounted on terrorist enclaves across the region.

According to Goni, the insurgents laid down their arms and abandoned their hideouts following sustained military operations backed by credible intelligence.

“The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), 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 read.

“In another major breakthrough, a fresh group of top ISWAP terrorist leaders have abandoned their enclaves and surrendered to troops within the North-East theatre of operations.”

He added that the surrendered insurgents included key members of the terrorist network who were compelled to lay down their arms because of the sustained military pressure.

According to him, the former insurgents are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other established procedures in line with operational protocols.

“Within the last week alone, a total of 76 terrorist foot soldiers with some families surrendered to troops,” Goni stated.

The military spokesman said the latest development underscored the devastating impact of the ongoing offensive by Operation Hadin Kai, which continues to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt command structures and weaken logistics networks.

He noted that the operations had significantly reduced the terrorists’ combat capabilities while eroding confidence within their ranks.

“Persistent military operations have continued to degrade the terrorists’ combat capabilities while eroding confidence within their ranks and leadership,” he said.

Goni said the recent operational gains reflected the effectiveness of the Nigerian military’s counter-terrorism strategy, which combines precision combat operations, intelligence-led engagements and coordinated efforts with other security partners.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Hadin Kai to ending terrorism in the North-East and restoring lasting peace to the region.

“The pressure on the remaining terrorist elements will continue unabated until they are completely neutralised or forced to surrender,” the statement added.