ISWAP finance chief’s wife, son surrender to soldiers in Borno

ISWAP finance chief’s wife, son surrender to soldiers in Borno

Wife of an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) chief finance operative and her 11-year-old son have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State, according to the Nigerian Army.

Acting Deputy Director of the Army Public Relations, Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said in a statement on Saturday that the woman and her son surrendered on July 29, 2026, at Kusuma Village, following the surrender of her husband on July 25, 2026.

The statement read, “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have continued to sustain pressure on terrorists through a series of intelligence-led operations that resulted in the arrest of suspected terrorist collaborators, the surrender of the family members of a senior ISWAP commander, and the recovery of terrorist logistics items.

“On 29 July 2026, the wife of an ISWAP chief finance operative and her 11-year-old son surrendered to troops of 3 Battalion through Kusuma Village.”

According to Goni, preliminary investigations revealed that her husband, a senior ISWAP commander who reportedly served as the group’s chief finance officer in Jubillaram and surrendered on July 25, 2026, instructed her to surrender with their son after his successful escape from the enclave.

“Both individuals have been screened and are currently undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures,” he added.

Goni said that in another operation conducted on July 27, 2026, troops of the 5 Brigade arrested six suspected ISWAP collaborators in Damasak, Borno State.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly generating funds for the terrorist group through the procurement and sale of cattle at designated markets in Gubio, Damasak and Ajuwango,” he said.

The army spokesman said items recovered from the suspects included a Volkswagen Golf car, vehicle keys, four mobile phones of different brands, cow meat and ₦317,950.

“The suspects are currently in military custody undergoing further investigation,” he added.

In a related development, Goni said troops of the 145 Battalion, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a clearance operation at Turoh.

“On sighting the advancing troops, the terrorists fled in disarray. During the subsequent exploitation of the area, troops recovered two motorcycles and huge quantities of illicit hard drugs abandoned by the fleeing terrorists,” he said.

Goni reassured the public that troops would continue to intensify intelligence-driven offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist logistics and financial networks while encouraging willing terrorist members and their families to surrender.

“The military also urges members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information that will support ongoing operations to restore lasting peace, security and stability across the theatre,” he concluded.