The military has disclosed that 17 terrorist fighters, alongside their family members, surrendered to troops of Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, within one week.
The fighters reportedly abandoned their enclaves because of worsening living conditions, hunger and a shortage of basic necessities, particularly in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno State.
The military also revealed that troops of Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, rejected a financial inducement from a suspected terrorist spy who attempted to avoid arrest in Sokoto State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during his weekly briefing on the latest operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to Onoja, troops recovered six firearms and more than 300 rounds of ammunition during the period under review. The operations also led to the rescue of a woman who had been abducted by terrorists and reportedly forced into child marriage, along with her one year old child.
Giving details of the operations, Onoja said troops on September 6 intercepted a truck at a checkpoint along the Gurbi Zurmi Road in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Four motorcycles concealed inside consignments of fuel and oil bound for Zamfara State were discovered and seized, while the driver was arrested for questioning. Further investigations the following day resulted in the arrest of 12 additional suspects and the recovery of more exhibits.
In Sokoto State, troops on September 8 arrested a suspect accused of spying on military positions at Dange Market in Dange Shuni Local Government Area.
The suspect reportedly attempted to secure his release by offering money to the troops, but the soldiers refused the inducement and proceeded with the arrest.
Meanwhile, sustained military operations between September 4 and 7 resulted in the surrender of 17 terrorist fighters and their family members in Monguno town and along the Gwoza Limankara Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The fighters reportedly said the harsh conditions within the terrorist enclaves, including hunger and a lack of basic provisions, had forced them to flee.
In another operation on September 8, troops intercepted a female abductee and her one year old child near the Gava area of Gwoza Local Government Area.
The woman, an indigene of Chinene, reportedly told the troops that her captors had forced her into child marriage in 2025.
The military also arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where radio equipment allegedly connected to a reprisal attack on residents was discovered and seized.
Onoja further disclosed that troops on September 10 intercepted a suspected ammunition courier along the Birnin Gwari axis and recovered 300 rounds of ammunition concealed among her belongings.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops across the various theatres of operation for their recent successes.
He praised their efforts in disrupting terrorist activities, cutting off arms and logistics networks, encouraging the surrender of fighters and their families, and rescuing victims of kidnapping.
Oluyede also recognised the continued cooperation between the military, other security agencies and relevant stakeholders, describing the collaboration as important to the country’s efforts to tackle terrorism, kidnapping and secessionist agitation.
He assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would maintain the current pace of operations while remaining guided by its Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement, as well as International Humanitarian Law and other recognised international standards.
