Military pressure across Nigeria’s North East has triggered a 213 per cent weekly surge in the number of terrorist fighters and associates surrendering to troops.
The sharp rise follows sustained ground and air operations conducted by Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), designed to disrupt logistics and degrade insurgent strongholds. In a statement released on X on Wednesday,
Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer for the theatre command, attributed the mass surrenders to the military’s multi-dimensional strategy that has systematically restricted the militants’ ability to regroup or resupply.
“During the period under review, the Theatre recorded a 213 per cent increase in terrorist surrenders compared with the preceding week,” Goni stated, noting that the trend reflects eroding morale, internal fractures, and a growing willingness among fighters to lay down their arms.
The offensive yielded further gains on Wednesday when two high-profile insurgents surrendered with arms, ammunition, and military hardware. Goni noted that “The recovery of these weapons and ammunition further reinforces indications that sustained military pressure is having a significant effect on the cohesion, morale and operational sustainability of terrorist elements.”
This follows an earlier incident on 7 August, when a group of insurgents surrendered to the 202 Battalion at New Abaram in Bama due to continuous military bombardment and internal disputes within their ranks. The fighters were screened and disarmed before being handed over to civil authorities in line with standard protocol.
Goni pledged that Operation HADIN KAI would maintain momentum while keeping surrender channels open. “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,” he said. The military urged the public to assist troops with intelligence while advising remaining insurgents to renounce violence.