Intense military crackdown leads to capture of 17 relatives of terrorists in Borno

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

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

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The Acting Military Information Officer, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the surrendered relatives are in military custody undergoing preliminary profiling and debriefing.

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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.”

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

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

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“A total sum of ₦92,000 was recovered from the group during the process,” he said.

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

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“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.

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

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“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.

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Goni said the latest surrender was a direct outcome of ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves, disrupting their lines of communication and logistics, and denying them freedom of movement within the theatre of operations.

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

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“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.

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