ISWAP finance chief surrenders to Nigerian troops with two children in Borno

ISWAP finance chief surrenders to Nigerian troops with two children in Borno

A senior financial operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State, alongside two male children, in what the Nigerian Army has described as a significant breakthrough in its sustained campaign against insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East.

The surrender took place on Saturday along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route, where troops of the 3 Battalion under the 24 Task Force Brigade received the insurgent at about 6:45 a.m.

Announcing the development, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the latest surrender demonstrates the growing impact of coordinated military offensives and intelligence-driven operations targeting terrorist groups operating across the North-East.

According to the Army, preliminary profiling identified the surrendered suspect as the Chief Finance Operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he managed the group’s financial operations, logistics and supply chain.

Military authorities said the suspect voluntarily surrendered alongside two male children after sustained pressure from troops disrupted the group’s operational activities and weakened its ability to sustain attacks.

Captain Goni described the development as another major operational success in the military’s ongoing efforts to dismantle ISWAP’s command structure and financial network.

“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have recorded another major operational breakthrough with the surrender of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) finance operative, underscoring the sustained impact of ongoing kinetic and intelligence-driven operations across the North East,” he said.

READ ALSO:

• Al-Mustapha Fires Back: Ex-DSS Officer’s Account of Abacha’s Death Is a Lie, I Have CCTV Evidence
• Anthony Joshua stuns Kristian Prenga with dramatic knockout to revive career
• INEC Chairman assures Nigerians every vote will count in 2027 general election

During the operation, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and ₦40,000 from the surrendered operative.

The recovered weapons and other items are expected to assist investigators in ongoing intelligence and forensic assessments.

The Army disclosed that the suspect is currently undergoing comprehensive profiling and interrogation to obtain intelligence that could help security forces identify terrorist commanders, logistics routes, weapons caches and financing channels still supporting ISWAP operations.

According to Goni, information obtained from the surrendered operative is expected to strengthen ongoing military operations and facilitate the targeting of remaining terrorist elements across the theatre.

The military also revealed that the surrender comes amid a growing wave of defections, with about 46 terrorists and their family members reportedly laying down their arms in recent days.

Military authorities attributed the increasing number of surrenders to sustained land offensives, precision air strikes and intelligence-led operations that have destroyed several terrorist camps, disrupted supply routes and reduced the operational capacity of insurgent groups across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Security experts say the surrender of a senior finance operative represents a strategic gain because financial coordinators play a critical role in sustaining terrorist organisations through funding, procurement of weapons, logistics management and recruitment activities.

They believe intelligence gathered from the suspect could expose financial networks, collaborators and supply chains supporting insurgent operations in the Lake Chad Basin and surrounding areas.

In recent months, troops under Operation Hadin Kai have intensified clearance operations across the Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad Basin, Mandara Mountains and other known terrorist enclaves, leading to the neutralisation of several insurgent commanders, recovery of arms and ammunition, destruction of logistics bases and rescue of kidnapped victims.

Captain Goni said the latest surrender reflects growing disillusionment within terrorist ranks as sustained military pressure continues to weaken the leadership, logistics and operational capabilities of ISWAP.

He added that the development reinforces the military’s confidence that ongoing operations are yielding measurable results in the fight against terrorism.

The Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to restoring lasting peace across the North-East and urged remaining terrorists to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by surrendering their weapons and abandoning violence.

The Army also appealed to residents of communities across the region to continue providing credible and timely intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains essential to the success of counter-terrorism operations.

The latest surrender is expected to provide valuable intelligence that could further weaken ISWAP’s financial and operational networks while supporting ongoing efforts to restore security and stability in Nigeria’s North-East.

ISWAP finance chief surrenders to Nigerian troops with two children in Borno