Chiemelie EzeobiThe ongoing offensive by troops of Operation HADIN KAI has continued to weaken the ranks of insurgents in the North-east, with 17 family members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) voluntarily surrendering to the military in separate incidents in Borno State. The surrender, which occurred on August 4, underscores the impact of intensified military operations targeting terrorist strongholds across the theatre. Military authorities said the group cited the sustained bombardment and ground offensives against insurgent hideouts as the key reason for abandoning the terrorists. Later the same day, an 11-year-old linked to the terrorist group also surrendered to troops of the 202 Battalion in Bama Local Government Area. The child similarly attributed the decision to the sustained pressure mounted by the military on insurgent positions.