Operation HADIN KAI has recorded a significant operational breakthrough with the surrender of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) finance operative, signalling mounting pressure on the terrorist group’s leadership and logistics network as sustained military offensives continue to erode its operational capacity across Nigeria’s North-East.
The surrender followed coordinated land and air offensives that have intensified pressure on terrorist enclaves, contributing to a growing wave of defections, according to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operates HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni.
Military authorities disclosed that about 46 terrorists and their family members have voluntarily surrendered in recent days, suggesting that the combination of kinetic operations and intelligence-led campaigns is steadily weakening ISWAP’s cohesion and sustainment capabilities.
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The senior operative surrendered to troops of 3 Battalion under 24 Task Force Brigade at about 06:45 WAT on 25 July along the Ladari-Jegarawa-Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru-Wulgo Main Supply Route. He arrived with two male children, voluntarily laying down his arms before the troops.
Preliminary profiling by the Theatre Command identified the individual as the chief finance operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he reportedly managed the terrorist group’s financial activities and logistics support.
The command noted that disrupting such a position would strike at the financial backbone required to sustain terrorist operations, procurement and mobility.
Troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle and ₦40,000 during the surrender. Military authorities stated that the suspect is undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to extract actionable intelligence capable of supporting ongoing operations against remaining terrorist cells.
The Theatre Command assessed the surrender as another major setback for ISWAP, arguing that the loss of a senior financial coordinator, combined with increasing defections, reflects growing internal disillusionment and continued degradation of the group’s command structure under sustained military pressure.
Operation HADIN KAI reiterated that offensive operations will continue until terrorist networks are dismantled completely, while urging remaining fighters to embrace the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by surrendering. The command also appealed to residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies to strengthen ongoing counter-terrorism operations and consolidate lasting peace across the North-East.
