The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Abuja, has announced an expansion of its surrender policy for non-state armed groups, extending the programme to gunmen operating in the South-East, South-South and South-West regions of Nigeria.
The policy, which had previously been associated mainly with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in the North-East, as well as bandits operating in parts of the North-West and North-Central, will now apply to armed groups across all theatres of military operations in the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the development on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions about the recent surrender of suspected militants to troops of Operation UDO KA in the South-East.
When asked whether the surrender option had now been extended beyond insurgency-affected regions, Onoja answered in the affirmative.
“Yes. They are welcome to surrender,” he said.Â
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will receive them in line with international law and other Geneva Conventions and transfer them to the relevant legal authorities for necessary action.
“The Armed Forces continues to act in line with its rules of engagement, International Humanitarian Law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The defence spokesman also clarified that there is no deadline for armed groups seeking to take advantage of the surrender policy.
“No. They are allowed to surrender any time they wish to. However, military kinetic operation is being intensified,” Onoja said.
The announcement comes days after the Nigerian Army said sustained operations under Operation UDO KA led to the voluntary surrender of members of a militant group operating in the South-East.
According to the Army, troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South-East recovered one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms after one of the suspects led soldiers to the group’s armoury.
The military also disclosed that in a separate intelligence-led operation, troops recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns, 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and an improvised explosive device.
The Army described the surrender as evidence that sustained military offensives, intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with other security agencies were degrading armed groups in the region and encouraging some fighters to abandon violence.
The South-East has experienced persistent insecurity in recent years, with attacks targeting security personnel, government facilities and civilians. Nigerian authorities have repeatedly blamed the violence on armed criminal groups operating in the region.
To combat the security challenges, the military launched Operation UDO KA, a joint security operation aimed at dismantling criminal networks, recovering illegal weapons and restoring peace across the South-East.
Until now, the military’s surrender programme had been largely limited to Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in the North-East and armed bandit groups operating in parts of the North-West and North-Central.
Monday’s announcement marks the first formal indication by the Defence Headquarters that the policy now applies to non-state actors across the South-East, South-South and South-West, even as the military says offensive operations against armed groups will continue alongside the offer for fighters to voluntarily lay down their arms.Â
