Intensified military crackdown sparks massive 213% surge in militant defections, says Army

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Sustained military operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai have triggered a 213 per cent increase in the number of terrorists and their associates surrendering in the North-East within one week, the military said on Wednesday.

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The development, according to the Joint Task Force, reflects growing pressure on terrorist groups as troops intensify ground operations, target terrorist positions and disrupt their logistics and supply routes across the theatre.

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The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday.

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Goni said the increase in surrenders compared with the preceding week followed sustained military operations aimed at degrading the operational capabilities of terrorist groups and restricting their freedom of movement.

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He said two high-profile terrorist members surrendered to troops on Wednesday, handing over arms, ammunition and other military items.

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According to him, the recovery of the weapons and ammunition further indicated the impact of sustained military pressure on the cohesion, morale and operational capacity of terrorist groups.

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He said, “The development is equally indicative of the diminishing capacity of terrorist elements to retain their fighters and sustain prolonged operations.”

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The military spokesman also disclosed that other terrorists surrendered to troops of 202 Battalion in Bama on August 7, 2026, at New Abaram, following sustained operations and internal disagreements within the terrorist enclave.

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The surrendered members were screened, while mobile phones and other items were recovered from them before they were handed over for further action in line with established procedures.

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Goni said the increasing frequency of surrenders demonstrated the impact of the military’s multi-dimensional approach, combining offensive ground operations, precision engagements and disruption of terrorist logistics and supply networks.

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He said the operations had denied terrorists the opportunity to freely manoeuvre, regroup and replenish their supplies, thereby weakening their ability to sustain attacks.

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The spokesman said the trend was “more than isolated individual decisions,” describing it as the cumulative effect of sustained military pressure and the gradual erosion of terrorist capability and cohesion.

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Operation Hadin Kai, he added, remained committed to maintaining military pressure against terrorist elements while providing channels for those willing to surrender.

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“The objective remains clear: to further degrade terrorist capabilities, restore security and create the conditions necessary for lasting peace and stability across the North-East,” Goni said.

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He urged members of the public to continue supporting military operations by providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

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He also called on terrorists and their associates to abandon violence and take advantage of the available surrender channels.

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