Several senior Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, commanders have surrendered to troops amid intensified military operations across the North-East, the Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, OPHK, has said.

The latest defectors abandoned their enclaves after weeks of sustained offensives, precision airstrikes and intelligence-led operations that have degraded ISWAP’s capabilities.

The surrendered commanders are currently in a secure military facility for profiling, intelligence debriefing and other procedures in line with operational protocols. Authorities have not released their identities for security reasons, but described the development as a major blow to ISWAP’s leadership structure.

Military sources linked the surrenders to the increased tempo of OPHK’s land and air operations targeting terrorist enclaves, logistics bases, supply routes and command centres in Borno and other parts of the region. 

They said the campaign has restricted insurgents’ movement, disrupted logistics and weakened their capacity to launch large-scale attacks, pushing more fighters and commanders to quit.

The development follows other recent surrenders. Military records show no fewer than 76 fighters, alongside some family members, laid down arms within the past week in different parts of the theatre.

Analysts attribute the rising defections to sustained military pressure, poor conditions in camps, dwindling supplies and internal mistrust. Recent intelligence also indicates divisions within ISWAP’s leadership over operations, resources and command, contributing to low morale.

Authorities say the strategy combining combat operations, intelligence targeting, air interdiction and inter-agency collaboration is shrinking the space for terrorists in the North-East. The latest defectors are expected to provide useful intelligence on leadership, logistics, recruitment, planned attacks and remaining hideouts.

OPHK said it will sustain offensives until all insurgents are neutralised or forced to surrender, while troops consolidate gains and keep pressure on remaining elements.

Source: X Nigeria Army