Two senior Boko Haram commanders have laid down their arms and surrendered to troops of Sector 2 under Operation HADIN KAI in Geidam, Yobe State. The pair, known as "Munzirs" in the terrorist group's hierarchy, gave themselves up on July 4, 2026.
Military authorities have moved the surrendered fighters to Maiduguri where they're now held in custody. They're undergoing profiling, debriefing and intelligence work, Captain Mohammed Goni, the acting media officer for the North East Joint Task Force, told reporters on Tuesday.
Goni described the surrenders as a significant breakthrough in the counter-terrorism campaign. He said preliminary questioning shows both commanders held senior roles and possess deep knowledge of the group's operations, command structure and supply lines.
The debriefing has already yielded valuable intelligence about how the terrorists operate and maintain themselves, he noted. This information will help troops locate and dismantle remaining terrorist bases across the northeast, he added.
The surrenders mark another major blow to the terrorist faction, Goni said. He credited the military's relentless pressure—combining ground and air operations with improved intelligence work—for weakening the group's ability to move freely and fight.
Military commanders say the sustained offensive is breaking the terrorists' will to resist. Increasingly, terrorist leaders and fighters are abandoning the insurgency and surrendering to troops, Goni told reporters.
The latest development shows the terrorist organisation is falling apart, he said. This reflects the cumulative effect of ongoing military operations across the region.
Operation HADIN KAI will keep pushing forward with intelligence-led operations and coordinated attacks, Goni concluded. Troops will work with stakeholders to crush the terrorist threat and restore peace and stability across the northeast.
