Operation Hadin Kai Secures Surrender of Senior ISWAP Finance Chief, 46 Others Lay Down Arms

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recorded another significant breakthrough in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East with the surrender of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) finance operative, as dozens of other terrorists continue to abandon the group.

The Theatre Command disclosed that the latest development comes amid a growing wave of defections, with about 46 terrorists and their family members voluntarily surrendering to troops in recent days following sustained land and air offensives against insurgent enclaves.

Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, announced the development in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

According to the military, the senior ISWAP operative surrendered to troops of the 3 Battalion under the 24 Task Force Brigade at about 6:45 a.m. on July 25, 2026, along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route in Borno State.

Preliminary profiling identified the suspect as the chief finance operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he allegedly managed the group’s finances and logistics.

The suspect surrendered alongside two male children.

Items recovered from him included one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle and ₦40,000 in cash.

Military authorities said the surrendered suspect is undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to obtain actionable intelligence that could aid ongoing operations and support efforts to dismantle the remaining terrorist network across the theatre.

The Theatre Command described the surrender as a major blow to ISWAP, saying it further weakens the group’s command structure, operational capability and logistics network.

It added that the increasing number of recent surrenders reflects growing disillusionment within terrorist ranks and signals an accelerating wave of defections from insurgent camps.

Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its commitment to restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East and urged remaining terrorists to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by surrendering.

The military also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence to strengthen ongoing counter-terrorism operations.