No fewer than 17 terrorist fighters, accompanied by their family members, have surrendered to troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, citing hunger, harsh living conditions and a lack of basic necessities in their enclaves.
The development was disclosed by the military, which also said troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, rejected a financial inducement offered by a suspected terrorist spy who attempted to evade arrest in Sokoto State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, made the disclosure during his weekly briefing on the operational activities and successes of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across the country.
Onoja said troops also recovered six firearms and more than 300 rounds of ammunition during the period under review.
He added that troops rescued a female victim of terrorist abduction who was allegedly forced into child marriage, along with her one-year-old child, in Borno State.
According to him, troops on September 6, 2026, intercepted a truck at a checkpoint along the Gurbi-Zurmi Road in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Troops confiscated four motorcycles concealed within fuel and oil consignments destined for Zamfara State. The driver was arrested and is currently undergoing investigation.
“Follow-up exploitation on September 7, 2026, led to the arrest of 12 suspects and the recovery of additional exhibits.
“On September 8, 2026, troops arrested a suspect spying on troops’ location at Dange Market in Dange Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
“The suspect had offered financial inducement in an attempt to evade arrest but met stiff resistance from our troops, who refused and went ahead to apprehend him,” he said.
17 Terrorist Fighters Surrender
Onoja said 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 LGA of Borno State.
He said the defectors attributed their decision to leave the terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains to deteriorating living conditions, hunger and a shortage of basic provisions.
In a related development, the military spokesman said troops on September 8 intercepted a female abductee and her one-year-old child near the Gava area of Gwoza LGA.
The victim, an indigene of Chinene, reportedly told troops that she had been forced into child marriage by her captors in 2025.
Ammunition Courier Arrested
The military also disclosed the arrest of a suspected terrorist collaborator in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.
According to Onoja, troops recovered radio communication equipment allegedly linked to a reprisal attack on local residents.
He further said troops on September 10 intercepted a suspected ammunition courier along the Birnin Gwari axis and recovered 300 rounds of ammunition allegedly concealed in her belongings.
CDS Commends Troops
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops operating across the various theatres for their successes in disrupting terrorist activities, logistics and arms-trafficking networks.
Oluyede particularly praised the troops for securing the surrender of terrorist fighters and their families and rescuing victims of kidnapping.
He also commended the continued collaboration between the military, other security agencies and relevant stakeholders, saying the synergy remained critical to strengthening Nigeria’s collective response to terrorism, kidnapping and secessionist agitation.
The CDS assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would sustain the current tempo of operations while continuing to operate in accordance with their Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement.
He said the military would also remain guided by International Humanitarian Law and other internationally recognised best practices in the conduct of its operations.
