By Emmanuel Nduka
Mounting hunger, worsening living conditions and violent internal rivalries are reportedly pushing fighters out of terrorist enclaves in Nigeria’s North-East region, with the military recording another wave of surrenders during its October operations.
Heritage Times HT reports that the development offers an insight into the internal pressures confronting insurgent groups, particularly Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as sustained military offensives, disrupted supply networks and clashes between rival factions continue to challenge their operational cohesion.
The Defence Headquarters, in its October 2026 operational briefing, disclosed that more than 50 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered to troops at different locations across Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza, Konduga, Mafa and Monguno Local Government Areas of Borno State.
According to the military, the surrendering fighters attributed their decision to leave the groups to deteriorating living conditions and internal violence, saying they consistently cited “hunger, hardship, and violent clashes between rival terrorist factions” as reasons for fleeing.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja told journalists on Friday that the reported surrenders came amid sustained military operations under Operation Hadin Kai across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. He said during October, troops recorded 68 surrenders under the operation, alongside 162 terrorists neutralised, 98 arrested and 39 kidnapped victims rescued.
Across all military theatres nationwide, however, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said it recorded 70 insurgent surrenders during the reporting period, alongside 217 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 333 arrested and 349 kidnapped victims rescued.
The figures, covering operations between September 30 and October 30, reflect the scale of military engagements against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country.
Beyond battlefield engagements, Onoja said troops intensified operations against suspected logistics suppliers, informants and collaborators believed to be supporting terrorist networks. Several suspects were arrested in Tarmuwa, Kanama, Benisheikh, Damboa, Gubio, Monguno and Ngurusoye between October 3 and 22.
He added that troops also arrested a suspected collector of illegal levies imposed by terrorists at Geidam market in Yobe State, highlighting the financial and economic structures through which insurgent groups sustain their operations.
The military highlighted that another notable development was the surrender of a suspected terrorist to local security groups at Buni Gari in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on October 17. The individual reportedly claimed to have been recruited through a social media group in 2024, offering another indication of the diverse channels through which extremist organisations may attract new members.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops recorded 98 attacks across the country’s operational theatres during the reporting period. Operation Enduring Peace in Plateau and Kaduna states recorded the highest number with 29 attacks, followed by Operation Hadin Kai with 27 and Operation Fansan Yamma with 24.
The military, however, maintained that the combined effect of counterterrorism operations, disrupted supply routes, intelligence-led engagements and increasing surrenders had weakened the adversary’s cohesion.
