The Defence Headquarters has announced that armed groups operating in the South-East, South-South and South-West can now voluntarily surrender under the military’s existing non-state actors surrender policy.
The announcement marks an expansion of a policy that had previously focused on terrorists and bandits operating in the North-East, North-West and North-Central parts of the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions over the recent surrender of suspected militants to troops of Operation UDO KA in the South-East.
Speaking during the briefing, Onoja confirmed that the opportunity to surrender is no longer limited to armed groups in northern Nigeria.
Asked whether the window had been extended to fighters operating in other parts of the country, he replied, “Yes. They are welcome to surrender.
“The AFN will receive them in line with international law and other Geneva Conventions and transfer them to the relevant legal authorities for necessary action.
“The Armed Forces continues to act in line with its rules of engagement, International Humanitarian Law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The military also made it clear that there is no deadline for those willing to lay down their weapons.
Responding to another question on whether there was a time limit for surrender, Onoja said, “No. They are allowed to surrender any time they wish to. However, military kinetic operation is being intensified.”
His comments came days after the Nigerian Army announced that a number of suspected militants voluntarily surrendered to troops carrying out Operation UDO KA in the South-East.
According to the Army, the surrender followed sustained military operations across the region aimed at dismantling criminal camps and disrupting armed groups responsible for violent attacks.
During the operation, troops of the 82 Division and the Joint Task Force South-East recovered several weapons after one of the suspects reportedly led soldiers to the group’s armoury.
Items recovered included an AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms.
In another intelligence-led operation, soldiers also recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns, 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and an improvised explosive device.
Military authorities described the latest surrender as another indication that sustained offensive operations were putting pressure on armed groups operating in the region.
The Army also said collaboration with other security agencies and improved intelligence gathering had continued to weaken criminal networks while encouraging some fighters to abandon violence.
The South-East has remained one of Nigeria’s major security flashpoints in recent years.
The region has recorded repeated attacks on security personnel, government facilities and civilians, leading to increased military deployments and joint security operations.
To address the security situation, the Nigerian Army launched Operation UDO KA, a joint military operation designed to dismantle criminal camps, restore law and order and improve security across the five South-East states.
Until now, the military’s surrender programme had largely been associated with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in the North-East, as well as armed bandits operating across parts of the North-West and North-Central.
Recall that on May 31, 2024, the Defence Headquarters vowed a stronger military response after gunmen attacked troops at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, leaving five soldiers dead while six civilians also lost their lives during the incident.
Following the attack, the then Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, blamed the assault on members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Reacting to the incident, Buba declared that the military would intensify its operations against those behind the attack.
He said, “The military will be fierce in its response. We will bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.”
The attack drew nationwide attention because it targeted security personnel on duty and heightened concerns over persistent violence in parts of the South-East.
Following the incident, the military increased operations under Operation UDO KA, carrying out several intelligence-driven raids across the region.
In subsequent operations, troops announced the recovery of arms and ammunition from suspected IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) camps, while a number of suspects were arrested for further investigation.
