The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has expanded its surrender programme to cover armed criminals nationwide, opening the option to gunmen, militants, and separatist elements across all six geopolitical zones.
The initiative previously targeted mainly Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in the North-East, alongside bandits terrorising the North-West and North-Central. It now extends to non-state actors in the South-East, South-South, and South-West.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions on the recent surrender of militants to troops of Operation Udo Ka in the South-East.
Asked to confirm whether the surrender option now applies nationwide, Onoja said the offer stands for all willing to lay down their weapons. He explained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would receive surrendering fighters in accordance with international law and the Geneva Conventions, before handing them over to relevant legal authorities. He added that troops remain guided by their rules of engagement, International Humanitarian Law, and the Nigerian Constitution.
No Deadline, But Warning Issued
On whether a deadline had been set for criminals to surrender, Onoja said none exists, but cautioned that military operations against those who refuse would only intensify. He said armed elements can surrender at any time, even as kinetic operations ramp up against holdouts.
The expanded policy follows recent gains by the Nigerian Army in the South-East, where sustained pressure under Operation Udo Ka pushed members of an armed group to voluntarily give up their weapons.
Troops of the 82 Division recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 54 rounds of live ammunition, and four locally made firearms after a surrendered suspect led soldiers to the group’s hideout, according to the military.
In a separate intelligence-led operation in the region, troops recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), 45 rounds of live ammunition, and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Military authorities said the voluntary surrenders demonstrate that combined military pressure, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration are dismantling criminal networks and pushing fighters to abandon violence.
The South-East has for years grappled with persistent attacks on police stations, government facilities, and civilians by armed groups, prompting the military to establish Operation Udo Ka to dismantle these elements and restore normalcy to the region.
With this latest announcement, the Defence Headquarters has signalled clearly that armed groups anywhere in Nigeria face a stark choice: surrender peacefully or confront the full weight of the military.
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