The Nigerian military has recorded a 213 per cent increase in the number of terrorist fighters and associates surrendering to troops in the North-East within one week, following sustained operations against terrorist groups in the region.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni.
According to Goni, troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI intensified coordinated ground operations targeting terrorist positions, logistics networks and supply routes across the theatre.
“During the period under review, the Theatre recorded a 213 per cent increase in terrorist surrenders compared with the preceding week,” he said.
The military said the increase was linked to continued pressure on terrorist groups and efforts to disrupt their ability to move, regroup and replenish their supplies.
In a related development, two high-profile terrorist members reportedly surrendered to troops on Wednesday, bringing arms, ammunition and other military items with them.
Goni said the recovery of the weapons provided further indications that sustained military operations were affecting the cohesion and operational capacity of terrorist elements.
He added that other terrorist members had surrendered to troops of 202 Battalion in Bama on August 7 at New Abaram.
According to him, the surrender followed sustained military operations as well as internal disagreements within the terrorist enclave.
The surrendered individuals were screened, while mobile phones and other items were recovered before they were handed over for further action in line with established procedures.
The Theatre Command said the rising number of surrenders demonstrated the impact of its multi-dimensional approach, which combines offensive ground operations, targeted engagements and the disruption of terrorist logistics and supply networks.
Goni said denying terrorists the ability to freely manoeuvre, regroup and replenish their supplies was gradually restricting their operational options and undermining their ability to sustain attacks.
He described the increasing surrenders as the cumulative result of sustained military pressure and what he called a gradual erosion of terrorist capability, cohesion and willingness to continue fighting.
Operation HADIN KAI, he said, would continue to maintain pressure on terrorist elements while providing appropriate channels for those willing to surrender.
“The objective remains clear: to further degrade terrorist capabilities, restore security and create the conditions necessary for lasting peace and stability across the North-East,” Goni said.
The Theatre Command also urged members of the public to support ongoing military operations by providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
It further encouraged terrorist fighters and their associates to abandon violence and take advantage of the available surrender channels.
