Odita Sunday 
Military Pressure Forces Top ISWAP Leaders to Surrender as 76 Terrorist Foot Soldiers Lay Down Arms in North-East
By Odita Sunday
The sustained offensive by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has forced another group of senior leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to surrender, in what the military described as a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North-East.
According to Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, the latest surrender followed intensified military operations supported by credible, timely and actionable intelligence against Boko Haram and ISWAP enclaves across the theatre.
Goni said the surrendered insurgents comprise key members of the ISWAP leadership who abandoned their hideouts as a result of relentless military pressure.
He disclosed that the former terrorist leaders are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other established procedures in line with extant operational protocols.
”The development underscores the devastating impact of the sustained offensive by Operation HADIN KAI, which continues to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt command and logistics structures, and deny insurgents freedom of action across the theatre,” he said.
The military spokesman added that persistent operations have significantly degraded the combat capabilities of the terrorists while weakening confidence within their ranks and leadership.
He further revealed that within the last one week, 76 terrorist foot soldiers, alongside some members of their families, also surrendered to troops operating in the North-East.
According to Goni, the latest operational gains demonstrate the effectiveness of the Nigerian military’s comprehensive counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy, which combines precision combat operations, intelligence-led engagements and coordinated joint operations with partner security agencies.
He reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to completely defeating 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,” he stated.
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