Seventeen family members linked to the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State, with the Nigerian Army attributing the development to sustained military operations against terrorist enclaves across the North-East.
According to the Army said the group surrendered in two separate incidents on August 4 in Konduga and Bama Local Government Areas. Those involved, the army said, are now in military custody undergoing preliminary profiling and debriefing before being transferred to the appropriate authorities for further processing.
Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday.
READ RELATED NEWS UPDATES
Military secures NIPSS Kuru as gunmen’s attack fails
Three dead, 17 rescued in Borno boat accident
Troops repel Boko Haram attack in Borno, rescue 69 civilians in North-East operations
He explained that 16 of the surrendered individuals, comprising 10 women and six children, voluntarily approached troops of the 222 Battalion at about 9:15 a.m. while soldiers were conducting a domination patrol along the Gezuwa axis of Konduga Local Government Area.
During initial debriefing, the group told military personnel that the sustained offensive mounted by troops against terrorist hideouts influenced their decision to leave the insurgents’ camp and surrender.
Capt. Goni added that soldiers recovered N92,000 from the group during the process.
A few hours later, at about 12:04 p.m., an 11-year-old JAS family member also surrendered to troops of the 202 Battalion under Sector 1 in Bama Local Government Area.
The Army said the child likewise attributed the decision to the sustained operational pressure being maintained by troops against terrorist elements across the theatre.
According to Goni, all 17 individuals remain in military custody where they are undergoing preliminary screening before being handed over for detailed profiling, rehabilitation where applicable, and other administrative procedures in line with existing government guidelines.
The Army maintained that the surrender reflects the impact of ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist camps, disrupting supply routes, and denying insurgents freedom of movement across the region.
Capt. Goni said troops would sustain the offensive until armed groups are deprived of the capacity to operate, while creating conditions for those willing to abandon insurgency to surrender through established procedures.
Even as the surrendered group comprised only women and children, the Army views such surrenders as a sign that continued military operations are affecting the support structures around insurgent groups.
The military did not state whether any active fighters surrendered alongside the relatives or disclose the identities of the individuals involved. It also gave no indication of when the debriefing process would be completed before they are transferred to relevant government agencies for rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
