A senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in the latest wave of defections recorded by the military in the North-East.
The development was announced in a statement released by the Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, and signed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni.
The suspect surrendered alongside two children at about 6:45am on July 25 along the Ladari–Jegarawa–Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route. He was received by troops of the 3 Battalion under the 24 Task Force Brigade.
According to the military, the surrender followed sustained land and air operations targeting terrorist hideouts across the region.
Preliminary investigations identified the suspect as the chief finance operative of the ISWAP faction operating from Jubillaram. He was said to have managed the group’s financial activities and logistics arrangements.
Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle and N40,000 cash from the surrendered operative.
The military also disclosed that about 46 terrorists and their family members had surrendered to troops in recent days, describing the development as an indication of increasing pressure on insurgent groups in the region.
“The individual is 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,” the statement said.
The military said the surrender of the ISWAP finance chief would affect the group’s command structure, logistics network and operational activities.
It added that the growing number of defections reflected increasing discontent among insurgents and urged remaining fighters to surrender through the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives.
The Joint Task Force also appealed to residents across the North-East to continue providing credible information to support counter-terrorism operations.
