Terrorist senior commanders surrender in Yobe, offer valuable insights into terror network — Army
Abdullateef Fowewe
Two senior commanders of the terrorist group operating in Nigeria’s Northeast surrendered to troops of Sector 2 in Geidam, Yobe State on 4 July, the Joint Task Force (Operation HADIN KAI) said on Tuesday.
In a statement signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, the military said the two fighters, described as “Munzirs within the terrorist leadership structure” arrived Maiduguri at about 1930 hours on 5 July and are now in military custody for “detailed profiling, debriefing and intelligence exploitation.”
“Preliminary interrogation indicates that the two surrendered commanders occupied influential positions and possess extensive knowledge of the group’s operational activities, command arrangements and logistics architecture,” the statement said.
It added that “initial intelligence obtained from the debriefing has provided valuable insights into the terrorists’ operational methods, sustainment mechanisms and support networks.”
The JTF said the information is expected to “significantly enhance ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at locating, disrupting and dismantling remaining terrorist enclaves across the North East Theatre.”
The surrender, the statement continued, marks “another major setback for the terrorist faction and further validates the effectiveness of the sustained offensive operations being conducted by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in conjunction with Partners.”
It credited coordinated land and air operations and intensified intelligence efforts with denying militants freedom of movement and degrading their combat capability.
“Increasingly, terrorist leaders and fighters are finding continued resistance untenable, compelling them to abandon the insurgency and surrender to troops,” the JTF said, adding that the development “further reinforces the growing disintegration of the terrorist organisation.”
Operation HADIN KAI reiterated its commitment to maintain pressure on remaining elements until they are “neutralised or compelled to surrender,” and pledged to continue to “exploit actionable intelligence, intensify offensive operations and work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders to eliminate the terrorist threat and restore enduring peace, security and stability across the North East.”
The identities of the two surrendered commanders, the exact group they belonged to, and details of any evidence obtained during debriefing were not disclosed in the statement.
