Hunger, Hardship Drive 73 Insurgents, Families to Surrender — DHQ
Hunger, harsh living conditions and dwindling supplies in terrorist enclaves have forced dozens of insurgents and their family members to surrender to troops in the North-East, the Defence Headquarters has said.
The DHQ said 73 insurgents and their family members surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in September, citing severe hardship in their hideouts around the Mandara Mountains and Lake Chad.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Defence Headquarters Combined Monthly and Third Quarter Media Briefing in Abuja.
According to him, troops sustained operations across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states during the month, targeting terrorist groups, disrupting their activities and creating opportunities for those willing to surrender.
Onoja said some of the surrendering insurgents cited hunger and a lack of essential provisions as factors making life in their enclaves increasingly difficult.
He said troops also neutralised 27 terrorists, arrested 49 suspects and rescued 103 kidnapped civilians under Operation Hadin Kai during September.
The military recorded several surrender incidents during the month. On September 13, an insurgent surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, a grenade and an improvised explosive device, while two others from Bula Daloye surrendered on September 17 with three AK-47 rifles.
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Further surrenders were recorded between September 25 and 26 in Bama, Monguno and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State, the DHQ said.
In the third quarter, Operation Hadin Kai recorded 331 insurgents who surrendered with their families, while troops neutralised 273 terrorists, arrested 348 suspects and rescued 297 kidnapped civilians.
Across the country, the Armed Forces recorded 333 insurgents who surrendered during the quarter, alongside 554 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 1,333 suspects arrested and 1,736 kidnapped civilians rescued.
The DHQ said troops also recovered 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition during the quarter, while operations in the South-South led to the dismantling of 104 illegal refining sites and recovery of more than 1.61 million litres of stolen petroleum products.
The military said its operations were aimed not only at degrading terrorist and criminal networks but also at rescuing abducted civilians, protecting communities and restoring security in affected areas.
It added that troops continued to work with other security agencies and local security groups, while appealing to residents, traditional rulers and community leaders to provide credible and timely information to military formations or through the toll-free line 193.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their professionalism and sacrifices, while urging Nigerians to sustain their support for ongoing security operations.
