The Defence Headquarters has extended its surrender programme to armed groups operating in the South-East, South-South and South-West, allowing non-state actors in those regions to lay down their arms and submit to authorities.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, announced the expansion on Monday in Abuja while addressing questions on the recent surrender of some militants to troops under Operation Udo Ka in the South-East.
Onoja said the Armed Forces would accept those willing to surrender in accordance with international law, the Geneva Conventions and existing legal procedures.
“The Armed Forces will receive them in line with international law and other Geneva Conventions and transfer them to the relevant legal authorities for necessary action,” he said.
He added that there was no deadline for surrender, stressing that individuals or groups involved in armed activities could choose to give up their weapons at any time.
“They are allowed to surrender any time they wish to. However, military kinetic operations are being intensified,” he said.
The announcement followed recent operations by troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South-East under Operation Udo Ka, which led to the recovery of weapons from a militant group in the region.
According to the Nigerian Army, one of the suspects who surrendered guided troops to the group’s armoury, where soldiers recovered an AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four locally made firearms.
In another intelligence-driven operation, troops recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns, 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and an improvised explosive device.
The military said the surrender and recoveries reflected the impact of ongoing operations, security engagements and cooperation among security agencies aimed at weakening criminal networks.
The South-East has experienced prolonged security challenges, including attacks on security personnel, government facilities and civilians by armed groups. The military launched Operation Udo Ka to target these networks and improve security in the region.
Before the latest development, the surrender initiative was mainly associated with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in the North-East, as well as bandits and other armed groups in parts of the North-West and North-Central.
The extension of the programme marks a shift in the military’s approach to addressing armed groups across more regions of the country.
