By Teddy Nwanunobi
Sustained land and air offensives by the Nigerian military’s Operation Hadin Kai has forced a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) chief finance operative and 45 other terrorists and family members to surrender in Borno State.
Operation Hadin Kai described the incident, which occurred on Saturday, as another major blow to ISWAP, noting that it reflects the steady erosion of the group’s command structure, operational capability and logistical network under the sustained pressure of Operation Hadin Kai.
The latest development comes against the backdrop of an increasing wave of defections from terrorist ranks, with about 46 terrorists and their family members voluntarily surrendering to troops in recent days, underscoring the growing pressure on insurgent strongholds.
In a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer of Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the senior terrorist operative surrendered to troops of 3 Battalion under 24 Task Force Brigade at about 6:45 a.m. on 25 July 2026 along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route.
According to him, the terrorists’ decision to lay down their arms followed a series of coordinated and decisive land and air offensives carried out by Operation Hadin Kai against terrorist enclaves across the theatre.
Captain Goni disclosed that preliminary profiling identified one of the terrorist suspect as the chief finance operative of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he was responsible for managing the group’s financial activities and logistics. He surrendered alongside two male children.
He added that troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, one motorcycle and the sum of N40,000 from the surrendered terrorist.
“The individuals are currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to exploit actionable intelligence that will support ongoing operations and facilitate the targeting of remaining terrorist elements across the Theatre,” he stated.
According to the statement, the development, coupled with the increasing number of recent surrenders, points to deepening disillusionment within terrorist ranks and an accelerating wave of defections from insurgent camps.
Reaffirming its commitment to ending insurgency in the region, Operation Hadin Kai said it remained resolute in its mission to restore lasting peace, security and stability across the North-East.
The Theatre Command therefore called on all remaining terrorists to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by laying down their arms before it is too late, while also urging members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to strengthen ongoing counter-terrorism operations.