17 terrorist family members surrender amid military offensive

A total of 17 family members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State.

The Army said 16 of them surrendered in the Konduga Local Government Area, while one other surrendered in the Bama Local Government Area.

The acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Muhammed Goni, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the surrendered relatives were undergoing preliminary profiling and debriefing in military custody.

The statement read, “Sustained offensive operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have continued to exert significant pressure on terrorist elements operating across the North East theatre, resulting in the voluntary surrender of 17 family members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) in separate incidents in Borno State.”

He said in the first incident, at about 9:15 am on 4 August 2026, 16 JAS family members comprising 10 women and six children voluntarily surrendered to troops of 222 Battalion while on a domination patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

During preliminary debriefing, Goni said the surrendered individuals disclosed that the sustained military pressure mounted by troops on terrorist enclaves significantly influenced their decision to surrender.

“A total sum of N92,000 was recovered from the group during the process,” he said.

He further added that in a similar operation at about 12:04 pm on the same day, an 11-year-old JAS family member voluntarily surrendered to troops of 202 Battalion under Sector 1 in Bama Local Government Area.

“During preliminary debriefing, the minor also attributed his decision to surrender to the sustained operational pressure being maintained by troops against terrorist elements within the theatre,” he said.

According to the spokesman, the surrendered individuals were in military custody undergoing preliminary profiling and debriefing.

“They will subsequently be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further profiling, detailed debriefing, rehabilitation processes where applicable, and other necessary administrative procedures in accordance with extant guidelines,” he stated.

The latest surrender, he said, was a direct outcome of the ongoing operational activities being conducted by troops to dismantle terrorist enclaves, disrupt their lines of communication and logistics, as well as deny them freedom of action within the theatre of operations.

He, however, assured that Operation Hadin Kai remained resolute in sustaining aggressive offensive operations against terrorist elements across the North East.

“Troops will continue to dominate identified operational areas, maintain pressure on terrorist enclaves, and deny criminal elements the freedom to operate, while facilitating the safe and voluntary surrender of those willing to lay down their arms in line with established procedures,” Goni stated.(Punch)