The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced the nationwide expansion of its surrender programme for armed criminal groups, giving gunmen, militants, separatists, and other non-state actors across Nigeria the opportunity to voluntarily lay down their weapons and embrace peace or face intensified military operations.
The initiative, which was previously limited to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East, as well as armed bandits operating in the North-West and North-Central regions, has now been extended to cover criminal elements operating in the South-East, South-South, and South-West.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, while responding to questions from journalists regarding the recent surrender of suspected militants to troops of Operation Udo Ka in the South-East.
According to Major General Onoja, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) is prepared to accept the surrender of any armed group willing to abandon violence, regardless of the region in which they operate.
He explained that all individuals who surrender would be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution before being handed over to the appropriate legal authorities for further action.
He stressed that the military remains committed to conducting all operations within established rules of engagement while respecting both domestic and international legal frameworks.
Addressing concerns about whether the military had fixed a deadline for armed groups to surrender, Onoja clarified that no such deadline exists.
He said those willing to abandon criminal activities are free to surrender at any time, but warned that military offensives against those who refuse to do so would continue to intensify.
According to him, while the door remains open for peaceful surrender, ongoing kinetic operations across the country are being strengthened to dismantle criminal networks and eliminate threats to national security.
The expansion of the surrender programme follows recent military successes recorded under Operation Udo Ka in the South-East, where sustained pressure by security forces reportedly forced several suspected members of armed groups to surrender voluntarily.
Military authorities disclosed that troops of the 82 Division recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 54 rounds of live ammunition, and four locally fabricated firearms after one of the surrendered suspects led soldiers to the group’s hideout.
In a separate intelligence-led operation within the region, troops also recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), 45 rounds of live ammunition, and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), further weakening the operational capabilities of criminal elements.
The Defence Headquarters stated that the increasing number of voluntary surrenders demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained military offensives, intelligence gathering, and cooperation among security agencies in disrupting armed groups and encouraging fighters to renounce violence.
For several years, the South-East has witnessed repeated attacks targeting police stations, government facilities, security personnel, and civilians by armed groups, creating serious security challenges across the region.
To address the situation, the Nigerian military established Operation Udo Ka with the objective of dismantling criminal networks, restoring law and order, and ensuring the safety of residents.
With the expansion of the surrender programme, the Defence Headquarters has reaffirmed that every armed group operating anywhere in Nigeria now has the option of surrendering peacefully and facing due legal processes or continuing armed resistance and confronting intensified military operations.
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