76 ISWAP Commanders Surrender to Nigerian Military

No fewer than 76 commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to the Nigerian military following sustained air and ground offensives targeting terrorist strongholds across the North-East.

The development was confirmed on Monday by the spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, who said the mass surrender resulted from intensified military operations and intelligence-driven campaigns against the insurgent group.

According to Goni, continuous attacks on terrorist enclaves forced the commanders and other fighters to abandon their camps and voluntarily surrender to troops.

He disclosed that several senior ISWAP figures were among those who laid down their arms and are currently being held at a secure location for further processing.

“Several senior ISWAP figures are among those who surrendered and are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other procedures in line with established operational protocols,” the statement said.

The military explained that the latest development demonstrates the growing success of Operation Hadin Kai in dismantling terrorist structures operating across the North-East.

According to the statement, the sustained offensives have significantly disrupted the group’s command hierarchy, logistics networks and operational capabilities, making it increasingly difficult for the insurgents to sustain coordinated attacks.

The military further noted that the surrender included not only armed fighters but also some who arrived with their family members, a development it described as evidence of declining confidence within the terrorist organisation.

It said the increasing number of defections reflects the deteriorating morale among ISWAP members as military operations continue to intensify across the region.

Operation Hadin Kai has, in recent months, stepped up coordinated air and ground assaults on terrorist hideouts while expanding intelligence-led operations aimed at denying insurgents freedom of movement.

Security authorities believe the continuous pressure has weakened the operational capacity of terrorist groups in the region and encouraged more fighters to abandon the insurgency.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining ongoing operations until terrorism is completely defeated, while urging remaining insurgents to surrender and embrace the opportunity provided under existing rehabilitation programmes.

Authorities also assured residents of the North-East that efforts to restore lasting peace and security across affected communities would continue through coordinated military operations and strengthened intelligence gathering.