Top ISWAP commanders, 76 fighters surrender to troops in North-East

The Nigerian military says several top commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province and 76 foot soldiers, alongside members of their families, have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Capt. Muhammad Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, attributing the development to sustained military offensives against terrorist enclaves.

According to Goni, the insurgents abandoned their hideouts and laid down their arms after coming under intense military pressure.

He said the latest group includes senior ISWAP commanders who are currently in military custody undergoing profiling, debriefing and other standard operational procedures.

The military spokesperson added that a total of 76 rank-and-file fighters, along with some of their family members, surrendered to troops within the past week.

He said the wave of surrenders reflects the impact of ongoing counter-terrorism operations, which have continued to dismantle terrorist camps, disrupt command structures and weaken the group’s logistics network.

Goni noted that persistent military operations had significantly degraded the terrorists’ fighting capacity while eroding confidence among their leadership and fighters.

He said the gains underscore the effectiveness of the military’s counter-insurgency strategy, which combines intelligence-driven operations with coordinated ground offensives.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on the remaining insurgents until they are either neutralised or compelled to surrender, with the ultimate goal of restoring lasting peace across the North-East.