Two senior terrorist commanders have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State, the Nigerian Army announced on Tuesday, saying the suspects have already provided intelligence expected to strengthen ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
The Punch reported that the disclosure was made in a statement by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni.
According to the Army, the two commanders surrendered to troops of Sector 2 in Geidam on July 4, 2026. They later arrived in Maiduguri at about 7:30 p.m. on July 5 and are currently being held in military custody.
The statement described the suspects as Munzirs within the terrorist leadership hierarchy, adding that they are undergoing “detailed profiling, debriefing and intelligence exploitation.”
It stated that preliminary findings from their interrogation revealed that the duo “occupied influential positions and possess extensive knowledge of the group’s operational activities, command arrangements and logistics architecture.”
The Army further disclosed that “initial intelligence obtained from the debriefing has provided valuable insights into the terrorists’ operational methods, sustainment mechanisms and support networks,” noting that the information would “significantly enhance ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at locating, disrupting and dismantling remaining terrorist enclaves across the North East Theatre.”
Describing the surrender as another significant success in the fight against insurgency, the military said the development “represents another major setback for the terrorist faction and further validates the effectiveness of the sustained offensive operations being conducted by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.”
The statement noted that coordinated land and air offensives, supported by improved intelligence gathering, have continued to limit the terrorists’ freedom of movement, degrade their combat capability and weaken their command structure.
It added that “terrorist leaders and fighters are finding continued resistance untenable, compelling them to abandon the insurgency and surrender to troops,” stressing that the latest surrender “further reinforces the growing disintegration of the terrorist organisation.”
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its resolve to sustain military pressure on insurgents, stating that troops would continue to “exploit actionable intelligence, intensify offensive operations and work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders to eliminate the terrorist threat and restore enduring peace, security and stability across the North East.”
The latest development comes as the military intensifies its intelligence-driven counter-insurgency campaign across the North-East, targeting the remaining terrorist enclaves in the region.
