The Nigerian Army has announced that a total of 958 insurgents and their relatives have laid down arms in the North-East region during the course of this year. Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this information during a press briefing held in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
According to the commander, since 2021, over 152,800 individuals, including fighters, women, and children, have surrendered. The breakdown reveals that 20,815 of these are male combatants, 37,095 are women, and 64,114 are children. Abubakar attributed the increasing numbers to relentless military operations and the degradation of terrorist groups’ capabilities, combined with effective non-kinetic approaches.
He emphasized that many of those who surrendered cited the intense pressure from military offensives, the collapse of their command hierarchies, and worsening conditions as key motivators. All surrendering individuals undergo thorough screening and questioning, which provides vital intelligence for ongoing missions. This intelligence has significantly improved operational planning and contributed to recent victories in the theatre.
The commander also lauded the Borno State Government’s deradicalisation and reintegration initiative, known as the Borno Model, for playing a crucial role in encouraging more fighters to abandon violence. This program, supported by local and international partners, offers a clear path for former insurgents to rejoin society. Collaboration with community leaders and humanitarian organizations has further built trust among those willing to surrender.
Abubakar stressed that combining military action with non-military strategies remains essential to weakening groups like Boko Haram. Despite the progress, he warned that the fight is not yet over and called for sustained efforts to prevent former fighters from relapsing into violence.