Odita Sunday 
Terrorist surrenders surge by 202% as military pressure mounts in North-East
By Odita Sunday
Terrorist surrenders have surged by 202 per cent week-on-week in the North-East as troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, intensify intelligence-led operations and military pressure against terrorist groups.
More than 150 terrorist commanders, fighters and affiliates surrendered during the current week, compared with over 50 recorded in the previous week, according to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni.
The dramatic increase, the military said, reflects the cumulative impact of sustained kinetic operations, intelligence gathering and coordinated non-kinetic efforts aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and encouraging members of the groups to abandon terrorism.
The development is also an indication of mounting pressure within terrorist formations, particularly over their freedom of movement, logistics, means of sustenance and ability to retain fighters in their enclaves.
The military said the recovery of weapons and ammunition from some of the surrendering terrorists further demonstrated the operational impact of sustained pressure on the groups.
According to Goni, the growing number of surrenders also underscores the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s comprehensive counter-insurgency strategy, which combines intelligence-led military operations with strategic communication, civil-military engagement and other non-kinetic measures.
He said the approach was disrupting terrorist activities and support networks, weakening hostile narratives and encouraging more members of the groups to disengage from terrorism.
Goni said strategic communication remained a key component of the campaign, as the military continues to send credible messages to individuals willing to abandon terrorism while highlighting the consequences of continued association with terrorist groups.
He added that all persons who surrender are profiled and documented and thereafter handled in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws.
The Theatre Command said it would sustain the current momentum to encourage further surrenders and weaken terrorist recruitment and logistics networks across the North-East.
The Military High Command commended troops for their resilience, discipline and operational effectiveness, urging them to maintain the pressure and continue denying terrorist elements freedom of action across the Theatre.
Operation HADIN KAI, the military said, remains committed to degrading terrorist networks and their support structures, protecting civilians and creating the conditions for the restoration of lasting peace, security and normalcy across the North-East.
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