Military Pressure Forces Top ISWAP Leaders to Surrender, Says Operation Hadin Kai

The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has announced the surrender of several top leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), describing the development as a major breakthrough in the military’s ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North-East.

The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Maiduguri.

According to the statement, the insurgent leaders abandoned their enclaves and surrendered to troops following sustained offensives backed by credible, timely and actionable intelligence.

The surrendered commanders are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other established procedures in line with operational protocols.

Operation Hadin Kai attributed the latest wave of surrenders to relentless military pressure that has continued to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt command and logistics structures, and deny Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters freedom of action across the North-East theatre of operations.

The military also disclosed that within the past week alone, 76 terrorist foot soldiers, alongside some members of their families, surrendered to troops operating in the region.

It said the growing number of defections underscores the effectiveness of its comprehensive counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy, which combines precision combat operations, intelligence-led engagements and coordinated joint efforts with security partners.

Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its determination to sustain the offensive against the remaining insurgents until they are either neutralised or compelled to surrender.

The task force maintained that its operations remain focused on completely defeating terrorism and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.