17 Boko Haram family members surrender to Nigerian troops in Borno, Army says

• Seventeen family members of Boko Haram's JAS faction voluntarily surrendered to troops in two separate incidents in Borno State.

• The Nigerian Army said sustained military pressure under Operation Hadin Kai influenced their decision to surrender.

• The surrendered individuals are undergoing profiling and debriefing before being handed over to relevant authorities for further processing.

The Nigerian Army says 17 family members of Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly known as Boko Haram, have voluntarily surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in separate incidents in Borno State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, said the latest surrenders were the result of sustained military operations targeting terrorist enclaves across the North-East.

According to the Army, the first incident occurred at about 9:15 a.m. on August 4, when 16 JAS family members—10 women and six children—voluntarily surrendered to troops of the 222 Battalion during a domination patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

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During preliminary debriefing, the surrendered individuals reportedly told troops that the sustained military pressure on terrorist hideouts significantly influenced their decision to surrender.

The Army also disclosed that ₦92,000 was recovered from the group during the surrender process.

In a separate incident later that day, at about 12:04 p.m., an 11-year-old JAS family member voluntarily surrendered to troops of the 202 Battalion under Sector 1 in Bama Local Government Area.

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According to the military, the minor also attributed the decision to surrender to the sustained operational pressure being mounted against terrorist elements in the theatre.

The surrendered individuals are currently in military custody, where they are undergoing preliminary profiling and debriefing.

The Army said they will later be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further profiling, detailed debriefing, rehabilitation where applicable and other administrative procedures in line with existing guidelines.

Captain Goni said the latest surrender reflects the impact of ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves, disrupting their communication and logistics networks, and restricting their freedom of movement across the North-East.

"Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in sustaining aggressive offensive operations against terrorist elements across the North East. 

Troops will continue to dominate identified operational areas, maintain pressure on terrorist enclaves, and deny criminal elements the freedom to operate, while facilitating the safe and voluntary surrender of those willing to lay down their arms in line with established procedures," the statement read.

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The Army did not disclose the identities of the surrendered individuals, citing ongoing profiling and debriefing procedures.

The military also did not indicate whether any of the surrendered individuals would eventually be enrolled in any government rehabilitation programme.