ISWAP commanders surrender has marked another milestone in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign after a fresh group of senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leaders voluntarily laid down their arms before troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI. The military also confirmed that 76 terrorist foot soldiers and some of their family members surrendered within the past week.
The Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to him, the latest breakthrough followed sustained military offensives supported by intelligence-driven operations across the North-East theatre. The military withheld the identities of the surrendered commanders and the locations where they laid down their arms, citing operational security considerations.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have 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,” Goni stated.
The military spokesman said the ISWAP commanders surrender involved key figures within the terrorist organisation who abandoned their enclaves following continuous military pressure.
“Among those who surrendered are key members of the terrorist network due to relentless military pressure. They are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other established procedures in accordance with extant operational protocols,” he said.
Goni noted that the latest development demonstrates the impact of ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds, disrupting command structures and cutting off logistics networks across the region.
Beyond the senior commanders, the military confirmed that 76 terrorist foot soldiers surrendered alongside some of their family members during the past week.
According to Goni, the sustained operations have significantly reduced the operational capacity of terrorist groups while weakening morale among both fighters and their leadership. He explained that the military’s counter-terrorism strategy combines precision combat operations, intelligence-led missions and coordinated efforts with other security agencies to sustain pressure on insurgent groups.
The military reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to eliminating terrorism and restoring lasting peace 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. The latest ISWAP commanders surrender is expected to further strengthen ongoing efforts to dismantle insurgent networks as security forces continue operations across the region.
