A senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Musa Usman, has surrendered to Nigerian troops in Borno State, bringing with him his two young sons and a cache of weapons. The surrender occurred on 25 July 2026 along the Ladari–Jegarawaji–Tunokalia corridor on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route, dealing a significant setback to the terrorist group's financial and logistics operations.
Troops act on intelligence to intercept high-profile target
Troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade, acting on actionable intelligence, mobilized alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and Hybrid Forces to intercept Usman at approximately 6:45 a.m. on July 25. The operation was coordinated by the 3 Battalion under the broader Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) framework. Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
According to Captain Goni, preliminary interrogation revealed that Usman served as the Chief Finance Officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram. In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the group’s financial operations, logistics, and resource management. His surrender underscores the sustained impact of ongoing kinetic and intelligence-driven operations across the North East.
Surrender includes family members and weapons
Usman did not surrender alone. He arrived with his two sons: Abubakar Musa, aged 10, and Awwali Musa, aged 15. Items recovered from him include one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and N40,000 in cash. The recovered items are part of ongoing investigations and intelligence exploitation.
The statement highlighted that this surrender is part of a broader trend of terrorist defections. Approximately 46 terrorists and their family members have voluntarily surrendered to troops in recent days, illustrating mounting pressure on terrorist strongholds and deepening disillusionment within insurgent ranks.
Command structure eroded under relentless pressure
Captain Goni emphasized that the surrender of such a key finance operative represents another significant setback for ISWAP. “His decision to lay down his arms follows the recent series of coordinated and decisive land and air offensives conducted by Operation HADIN KAI against terrorist enclaves,” the statement read. The ongoing operations have steadily eroded the group’s command structure, operational capability, and sustainment network.
The surrendered individual is currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation. Military authorities aim to exploit actionable intelligence that will support ongoing operations and facilitate the targeting of remaining terrorist elements across the theatre. The statement also noted that the increasing number of surrenders confirms a wave of defections from terrorist camps.
Call for remaining terrorists to surrender
Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its mission to restore enduring peace, security, and stability across the North East. The Theatre Command reiterated its call for all remaining terrorists to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by laying down their arms before it is too late. Captain Goni also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information to enhance counter-terrorism operations.
This development marks another milestone in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency, reflecting the effectiveness of coordinated military operations and intelligence-sharing among security forces and local vigilantes.
