ISWAP Finance Operative, 46 Others Surrender in Borno

A senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State, as the military says dozens of terrorists and their family members continue to lay down their arms following intensified offensives across the North East.

In a statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the military said the suspect surrendered to troops of 3 Battalion under the 24 Task Force Brigade at about 6:45 a.m. on July 25 along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route. The statement added that about 46 terrorists and their family members had also surrendered in recent days following sustained land and air offensives against terrorist enclaves.

According to the military, preliminary profiling showed the surrendered suspect served as the chief finance operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he was responsible for managing the group’s finances and logistics.

The suspect surrendered alongside two male children, while troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle and ₦40,000.

The military said the suspect is undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to obtain actionable intelligence that will support ongoing operations and aid efforts to dismantle the remaining terrorist networks across the North East.

“The surrender of such a key finance operative represents another significant setback for ISWAP, reflecting the growing erosion of the group’s command structure, operational capability, and sustainment network under the relentless pressure of Operation HADIN KAI,” the statement said.

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It added that the development, alongside the increasing number of recent surrenders, “confirms deepening disillusionment within terrorist ranks and points to an accelerating wave of defections from terrorist camps.”

The military reaffirmed its commitment to ending the insurgency, saying, “Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its mission to restore enduring peace, security, and stability across the North East.”

It also urged remaining terrorists to “take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by laying down their arms before it is too late,” while calling on members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to enhance ongoing counter-terrorism operations.