The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has formally expanded the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s surrender policy for non-state actors to all theatres of military operations across the country, opening the door for armed groups operating in the South-East, South-South and South-West to voluntarily lay down their weapons.

The development marks a significant shift in the military’s counter-insurgency and internal security strategy, as the surrender programme had previously been associated mainly with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in the North-East, as well as bandits and other armed groups operating in parts of the North-West and North-Central.

Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, announced the policy expansion in Abuja while responding to questions on the recent surrender of suspected militants to troops of Operation UDO KA in the South-East.

Confirming that the surrender option is no longer limited to insurgency-ravaged northern regions, Onoja said every non-state actor willing to abandon violence would be given the opportunity to surrender in accordance with international legal standards.

“Yes. They are welcome to surrender.
“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”, he said.

He stressed that military operations across the country would continue to be conducted within the framework of the Constitution, the Armed Forces’ rules of engagement and International Humanitarian Law.

“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,” he added.

The DHQ also clarified that there is no deadline for members of armed groups seeking to surrender.

According to him, individuals or groups willing to renounce violence can do so at any time, even as the military sustains aggressive offensive operations against criminal elements nationwide.

“No. They are allowed to surrender any time they wish to. However, military kinetic operation is being intensified,” Onoja stated.

The announcement comes days after the Nigerian Army disclosed that sustained military operations under Operation UDO KA forced members of a militant group operating in the South-East to voluntarily surrender their weapons and provide useful intelligence to security forces.

According to the Army, troops of the 82 Division in conjunction with the Joint Task Force South-East recovered an AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms after one of the surrendered suspects led soldiers to the group’s hidden armoury.

In another intelligence-led operation linked to the same campaign, troops recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and an improvised explosive device (IED), further degrading the operational capability of the armed group.

Military authorities said the recoveries underscored the effectiveness of ongoing offensives aimed at dismantling criminal networks across the region.

The Army described the voluntary surrender as a clear indication that sustained military pressure, intelligence-driven operations, strategic community engagement and collaboration with other security agencies were weakening armed groups and encouraging their members to abandon violence.

Operation UDO KA was launched to tackle rising insecurity across the South-East, where attacks on security personnel, government institutions, critical infrastructure and civilians have persisted in recent years.

The military has maintained that the operation combines offensive combat missions with intelligence gathering and civil-military engagements designed to restore lasting peace in the region.

The Defence Headquarters reiterated that troops would continue to intensify kinetic operations against criminal elements across the country..