A senior financial operative of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, has surrendered to Nigerian troops in Borno State alongside two male children.
The Nigerian Army said the development occurred on Saturday, July 25, 2026, along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route.
The Acting Military Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement, describing the surrender as a significant achievement in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.
According to him, the suspect surrendered to troops of 3 Battalion, 24 Task Force Brigade, at about 6:45 a.m.
Goni said preliminary investigations showed that the man served as the chief finance operative of an ISWAP enclave in Jubillaram, where he allegedly handled the group’s financial and logistical operations.
He said the surrender followed a series of coordinated ground and air offensives carried out by Operation Hadin Kai against terrorist strongholds.
The military spokesperson stated, “The terrorist surrendered alongside two male children,” adding that the development was part of a growing number of defections from terrorist groups in the region.
Items reportedly recovered from the surrendered operative include an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a motorcycle and ₦40,000 in cash.
Goni said the suspect was undergoing profiling and interrogation, noting that information obtained from him could assist security forces in tracking other members of the terrorist group.
He described the surrender of the ISWAP financial chief as a major blow to the group’s operations, particularly its ability to sustain its activities.
The statement quoted him as saying, “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.”
The Army also disclosed that about 46 terrorists and their family members had surrendered to troops in recent days, attributing the development to intensified military operations and growing disillusionment within terrorist camps.
Goni called on other terrorists to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives and surrender their weapons.
He further urged members of the public to provide security agencies with credible and timely information to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
