By Benson Daniel
The Nigerian Army has reported the surrender of a suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist in Borno State, while troops also arrested six suspected kidnappers in Adamawa State.
The developments were recorded during ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai across the North-East.
The six suspected kidnappers were arrested around Soktu Hill in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State following credible intelligence about their activities.
The arrests highlight continued military efforts to disrupt kidnapping networks operating in parts of the state, particularly areas where criminal groups have exploited difficult terrain and remote communities.
In Borno, troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade, operating under Sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai and working alongside Forest Guards, received a surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist at Borgozo in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area.
The surrender took place on September 13, with preliminary investigations indicating that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave and decided to abandon the group.
The latest development adds to the continuing pattern of terrorist members and affiliates abandoning their organisations as military operations intensify across the North-East.
Security operations in Borno and neighbouring areas have increasingly combined offensive military action, intelligence gathering and community-based security support to identify terrorist movements, disrupt logistics and encourage members of extremist groups to surrender.
The military has also continued to rely on information from residents and other local security networks to track criminal elements and identify individuals suspected of involvement in kidnapping and terrorism.
The arrest of the six suspects in Adamawa is expected to support further investigations into their alleged activities and possible links to wider kidnapping networks operating in the region.
Authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of timely intelligence from communities in combating terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes. The military’s recent operations have therefore placed emphasis not only on direct engagements with armed groups but also on gathering information capable of preventing attacks and identifying suspects.
The latest operations come amid sustained security challenges across parts of the North-East, where communities continue to face threats from terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal groups.
The Army said investigations into the arrested suspects would continue, while the surrendered terrorist would undergo profiling and further interrogation as security authorities work to establish his role and activities within the terrorist network.
The military has maintained that sustained pressure on terrorist groups, combined with intelligence-led operations and opportunities for fighters to abandon their organisations, remains central to efforts to restore stability across the region.
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