ISWAP Senior Finance Chief Surrenders to Soldiers in Borno

A senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) finance operative has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State, marking what the Nigerian Army described as a significant breakthrough in ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East. The suspect surrendered alongside two male children to troops of the 3 Battalion under the 24 Task Force Brigade.

According to the Army's Acting Military Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the surrender took place at about 6:45 a.m. on July 25 along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route. Preliminary profiling identified the suspect as the chief finance operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he was responsible for managing the group's finances and logistics.

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 Army said he is currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to obtain intelligence that could assist ongoing operations against remaining terrorist cells in the region.

The military noted that the surrender comes amid a growing wave of defections by insurgents, with about 46 terrorists and their family members reportedly laying down their arms in recent days. It described the latest surrender as another indication that sustained land and air offensives are weakening ISWAP's command structure, operational capacity and support network. The Army also urged remaining insurgents to embrace the Federal Government's non-kinetic initiatives and surrender peacefully.