On July 25, 2026, a senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route in Borno State. The operative, identified as the Chief Finance Operative of the ISWAP enclave in Jubillaram, turned himself in alongside his two male children and voluntarily handed over an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a motorcycle, and ₦40,000 cash.
Surrender Recorded by 3 Battalion
The Nigerian Army reported that the surrender was recorded by troops of the 3 Battalion under the 24 Task Force Brigade at approximately 6:45 a.m. The development followed sustained military operations targeting terrorist hideouts and enclaves in the North-East. Preliminary profiling by the military confirmed the surrendered fighter’s role in managing ISWAP’s financial activities and logistics within the region.
Statement from Military Official
In a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the military described the surrender as a major operational breakthrough. According to Captain Goni, the surrender underscores the effectiveness of ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns in the North-East.
Broader Trend of Surrenders
The Army also disclosed that approximately 46 terrorists and their family members have surrendered to troops in recent days amid intensified military operations across the North-East. These surrenders follow coordinated land and air offensives aimed at disrupting terrorist command structures, supply routes, and financial networks that support insurgent activities.
Background on ISWAP
ISWAP is a faction that broke away from Boko Haram and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. It remains one of the major armed groups responsible for insecurity in the Lake Chad region, with attacks in parts of Borno and other North-Eastern states for more than a decade. The Nigerian Army has repeatedly urged members of terrorist groups to surrender and take advantage of government-led rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, while continuing military offensives against those who refuse to lay down their arms.
Ongoing Military Operations
The recent surrenders are part of a broader trend as Nigerian security forces continue operations against ISWAP and Boko Haram factions. The military's sustained pressure, including land and air assaults, has increasingly degraded the terrorists' ability to operate. According to the Army, these operations have been critical in disrupting the financial and logistical networks that sustain insurgency in the region.
