By Sandra Kenneth
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have achieved a major operational breakthrough in the North East following the surrender of a high-ranking Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) financial officer and two young boys in Borno State.
The arrest and surrender were confirmed by the Nigerian Army in a statement issued late Saturday.
According to Captain Mohammed Goni, acting Military Information Officer for Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, the operative surrendered at approximately 6:45 a.m. on July 25, 2026, along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route.
Preliminary profiling reveals that the suspect served as the Chief Finance Operative for the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he managed the terrorist group’s financial operations and logistical networks.
Military authorities disclosed that items recovered from the insurgent included:
- One AK-47 rifle
- Four ammunition magazines
- 101 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition
- One motorcycle
- ₦40,000 in cash
“The individual is currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to exploit actionable intelligence that will support ongoing operations and facilitate the targeting of remaining terrorist elements across the theatre,” Captain Goni stated.
Military officials described the surrender as a heavy blow to ISWAP’s command structure and sustainment capacity, attributing the development to intensified land and air offensives across the region.
The military noted that this incident is part of a broader wave of defections, with roughly 46 insurgents and their family members surrendering to troops in recent days due to growing disillusionment within the terrorist ranks.
Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to restoring lasting peace to the North East and urged remaining insurgents to lay down their arms and take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives before it is too late.
