Sustained counter-terrorism operations by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have reportedly forced another group of senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders to surrender to the Nigerian military.
Security sources said the latest development followed weeks of coordinated military offensives, precision airstrikes and intelligence-led operations targeting terrorist enclaves across the North-East.
According to the sources, the surrendered commanders are currently being held at a secure military facility, where they are undergoing profiling, intelligence debriefing and other procedures in line with established operational protocols.
Although the identities of the commanders have not been disclosed for security reasons, military sources described the development as a significant blow to ISWAP’s leadership and a reflection of the sustained pressure being mounted on the group’s operational structure.
The sources attributed the latest surrenders to the intensified tempo of Operation HADIN KAI, which has continued to target terrorist hideouts, logistics bases, supply routes and command centres across Borno State and other parts of the North-East.
According to the military, the ongoing operations have significantly restricted the terrorists’ freedom of movement, disrupted their logistics network and weakened their ability to coordinate large-scale attacks, prompting many fighters and commanders to abandon the insurgency.
The latest defections come just days after scores of insurgents reportedly surrendered in different locations within the theatre of operations.
Military records indicate that no fewer than 76 terrorist fighters, along with some of their family members, voluntarily surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI within the past week.
Security analysts believe the growing number of surrenders is being driven by sustained military pressure, deteriorating living conditions within terrorist camps, dwindling supplies and increasing distrust among members of the insurgent group.
Recent intelligence assessments have also pointed to internal divisions within ISWAP’s leadership, with disagreements over operational decisions, shrinking resources and command authority reportedly contributing to declining morale among fighters.
Military authorities maintained that the current strategy, which combines precision ground operations, intelligence-driven targeting, air interdiction missions and close collaboration among security agencies, continues to reduce the operational space available to terrorist groups across the North-East.
The military said the surrender of the senior commanders could provide valuable intelligence on ISWAP’s leadership structure, logistics network, recruitment channels, planned attacks and the locations of remaining terrorist enclaves.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the current operational momentum until all terrorist elements are either neutralised or compelled to surrender, stressing that ongoing offensives would continue across identified terrorist hideouts in the North-East.
Military sources added that troops remain focused on consolidating recent gains while intensifying pressure on the remaining insurgent elements to further degrade their capabilities and restore lasting peace and security across the region.