Top ISWAP Commanders Surrender as Military Pressure Mounts in North-East

By Opeyemi Adelakun

Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East has recorded another significant breakthrough, with a fresh group of senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) surrendering to troops of Operation HADIN KAI after sustained military offensives.

The military also confirmed that 76 ISWAP fighters, accompanied by some of their family members, voluntarily surrendered during the past week, a development it described as further evidence of the growing pressure on terrorist groups operating in the region.

The Acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, announced the development in a statement issued on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State.

For security reasons, the military did not disclose the identities of the surrendered commanders or the locations where they laid down their arms. However, Goni said the development followed sustained combat operations supported by credible and actionable intelligence.

According to him, the latest surrenders reflect the success of ongoing military efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their command structures and deny insurgents freedom of movement across the theatre of operations.

He explained that the senior ISWAP figures abandoned their enclaves after coming under relentless military pressure and are currently undergoing profiling, debriefing and other operational procedures at a secure facility.

Goni said the operations have continued to weaken the operational capacity of terrorist groups while eroding morale among their fighters and leadership.

He disclosed that, in addition to the senior commanders, 76 rank-and-file terrorist fighters surrendered alongside some of their relatives within the last seven days.

The military spokesman noted that the latest gains underscore the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s strategy, which combines precision strikes, intelligence-driven operations and coordinated actions with other security agencies.

He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining the offensive until terrorism is completely defeated and lasting peace is restored across the North-East.

“The pressure on the remaining terrorist elements will continue until they are either neutralised or compelled to surrender,” the statement said.