The Nigerian military has announced the surrender of 76 commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), attributing the development to sustained air and ground offensives against terrorist strongholds in the North-East.
The disclosure was made on Monday by the spokesman for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, who said the intensified military campaign had forced the insurgents to abandon their camps and surrender.
According to Goni, the coordinated operations, backed by credible intelligence, have continued to mount pressure on terrorist enclaves, weakening the group’s ability to sustain its activities.
He revealed that several high-ranking ISWAP leaders were among those who laid down their arms and are currently undergoing security procedures.
“Several senior ISWAP figures are among those who surrendered and are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing and other procedures in line with established operational protocols,” the statement said.
The military described the latest development as further evidence of the success of ongoing counter-insurgency operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and disrupting their command structure.
It said the sustained offensive has continued to degrade the group’s operational capabilities by targeting its logistics base and limiting the movement of its fighters.
The military added that the surrender of the commanders, alongside other fighters and their7 family members, highlights the declining morale and weakening operational strength of the terrorist group.
