Hunger and harsh living conditions in terrorist enclaves forced 331 insurgents and their family members to surrender to troops in the third quarter of 2026, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this at a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters, yesterday.
He said more than 90 fighters and family members surrendered in September alone, as troops intensified offensives and disrupted the terrorists’ logistics networks, particularly in the North East.
‘The surrendering persons consistently cited harsh living conditions, hunger and the lack of basic provisions within terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad region,’ Onoja said.
In September, he said, troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested suspected logistics suppliers across Borno and Yobe states and seized foodstuffs, medical and veterinary supplies, pharmaceuticals, motorcycle spare parts, vehicles and cash allegedly meant for the terrorists. A supplier conveying Starlink internet devices bound for Chad was arrested on the Dikwa-Gamboru Road on September 23.
Onoja said over 70 surrenders were recorded at Monguno, Pulka, Gwoza, Dikwa, Bama and Ngala during the month.
A fighter surrendered an AK-47 rifle, a hand grenade and an improvised explosive device (IED) at Benisheikh on September 13. Two Boko Haram fighters from the Bula Daloye enclave in Bama Local Government Area surrendered with three AK-47 rifles on September 17. Further surrenders were recorded at Bama, Monguno and along the Kuranabasa axis in Gwoza on September 25 and 26, he added.
One of the latest escapees fled an ISWAP camp at Kolorom Village, near Jubilaram in the Lake Chad region, before surrendering.
Troops also rescued 44 family members of terrorists, comprising 13 women and 31 children, at Konduga on September 24. Onoja said they fled their enclaves amid clashes between rival terrorist factions.
He said Operation HADIN KAI troops neutralised 27 fighters, arrested 49 and rescued 103 kidnapped victims in September.
‘Cumulatively, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 273 terrorist fighters, arrested 348 terrorists and rescued 297 kidnapped victims during the third quarter, while 331 insurgents and their families surrendered,’ he said.
Onoja said the trend showed the impact of sustained military pressure and disruption of logistics networks.
Beyond the North East, he said troops sustained operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft nationwide.
In the North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops rescued 171 kidnapped victims and arrested 26 terrorists in September. An air operation in Kebbi State on September 17 disrupted terrorists moving a large number of captives, enabling more than 60 victims to escape.
In the North Central, Operation WHIRL STROKE troops rescued 320 kidnapped victims, while Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD troops rescued 27 and cleared 12 IEDs in Niger and Kwara states. Operation ENDURING PEACE troops arrested 155 suspects and rescued 28 victims in Bauchi, Kaduna and Plateau states.
In the South South, Operation DELTA SAFE troops destroyed eight illegal refining sites and recovered more than 304,822 litres of petroleum products.
Onoja said the military would sustain kinetic and non-kinetic operations to consolidate the gains.