Spouse and child of ISWAP's financial head turn themselves in to authorities in Borno

A significant development has unfolded in Borno State, where the wife of a high-ranking Islamic State West Africa Province finance operative, along with her 11-year-old son, has turned themselves in to Operation Hadin Kai troops.

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This revelation was made by Capt. Muhammed Goni, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai, in a statement released on Saturday.

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The woman and her son surrendered to troops on July 29, 2026, at Kusuma Village, just a few days after her husband, a senior ISWAP commander and chief finance operative, surrendered on July 25, 2026.

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According to Capt. Goni, the sustained pressure on terrorists through intelligence-led operations has led to the arrest of suspected collaborators, the surrender of family members of senior ISWAP commanders, and the recovery of terrorist logistics items.

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Troops of 3 Battalion were the ones to receive the surrender of the wife and her 11-year-old son at Kusuma Village on July 29, 2026, as part of the ongoing operations of Operation HADIN KAI.

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Preliminary investigations have shown that the woman's husband, who served as ISWAP's chief finance officer in Jubillaram, instructed her to surrender with their son after he managed to escape from the enclave on July 25, 2026.

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Both the woman and her son have undergone screening and are currently being profiled further in accordance with established procedures, according to Capt. Goni.

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In a separate operation conducted on July 27, 2026, troops of the 5 Brigade apprehended six suspected ISWAP collaborators in Damasak, Borno State, who were allegedly involved in generating funds for the terrorist group.

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The suspects were found to be procuring and selling cattle at designated markets in Gubio, Damasak, and Ajuwango to raise funds for the terrorist group, preliminary investigations revealed.

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Items recovered from the suspects include a Volkswagen Golf car, vehicle keys, four mobile phones of different brands, cow meat, and ₦317,950, according to Capt. Goni.

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The suspects are currently in military custody, undergoing further investigation, Capt. Goni added.

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Troops of the 145 Battalion also conducted a clearance operation at Turoh, acting on credible intelligence, where they recovered two motorcycles and huge quantities of illicit hard drugs abandoned by fleeing terrorists.

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The terrorists had fled in disarray upon sighting the advancing troops, allowing for the subsequent exploitation of the area and recovery of the abandoned items, according to Capt. Goni.

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Capt. Goni reassured the public that troops will 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.

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The military is also urging members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to support ongoing operations aimed at restoring lasting peace, security, and stability across the theatre, Capt. Goni concluded.