Terrorist Surrenders Surge 213% in North-East Amid Sustained Military Pressure
Sustained military operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have resulted in a 213 per cent increase in the number of terrorist fighters and associates surrendering in the North-East Theatre of Operations over the past week.
The Theatre Command said the development followed intensified ground operations, engagements against identified terrorist positions and sustained disruption of terrorist logistics and supply routes.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, the increased number of surrenders compared with the preceding week reflects growing pressure on terrorist elements and their diminishing ability to sustain operations across the theatre.
The statement said the military campaign was aimed at degrading the operational capabilities of terrorist groups and restricting their freedom of movement and action.
It added that two high-profile terrorist members surrendered to troops on Wednesday, bringing with them arms, ammunition and other military items.
The recovery of the weapons and ammunition, according to the Theatre Command, further indicates the impact of sustained military pressure on the cohesion, morale and operational sustainability of terrorist elements.
The Command said the development also suggested that terrorist groups were experiencing declining capacity to retain fighters and sustain prolonged operations.
In a related development, other terrorist members surrendered to troops of 202 Battalion in Bama, Borno State, on August 7 at New Abaram, following sustained military operations and internal disagreements within their enclave.
The Command said the group was screened after surrendering, while mobile phones and other items were recovered from them before they were handed over for further action in line with established procedures.
It said the increasing frequency of terrorist surrenders demonstrated the cumulative effect of sustained offensive operations, precision engagements and systematic disruption of terrorist logistics and supply networks.
According to the statement, the military’s strategy of denying terrorists opportunities to manoeuvre, regroup and replenish supplies had continued to restrict their operational options and undermine their ability to sustain attacks.
The Theatre Command said the trend represented more than isolated decisions by individual fighters, describing it as an indication of the gradual erosion of terrorist capability, cohesion and willingness to continue the insurgency.
Operation Hadin Kai, it added, would sustain military pressure against terrorist elements while providing appropriate channels for those willing to surrender.
The Command urged members of the public to continue supporting military operations by providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
It also encouraged terrorist fighters and their associates to abandon violence and take advantage of established surrender channels as part of efforts to restore security and achieve lasting peace and stability across the North-East.
By TimesNG