A man identified as Musa Usman, said to be a senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State amid sustained military operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development comes as security forces continue to intensify land and air offensives aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds across the region.
According to Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai, Usman was among 46 terrorists and their family members who voluntarily laid down their arms following increased military pressure.
Intelligence reports indicated that troops of the 24 Task Force Brigade received advance information about the planned surrender and intercepted the suspect along the Ladari–Jegarawaji–Tunokalia corridor on the Gamboru–Wulgo main supply route at about 6:45 a.m. on July 25.
The military said Usman, 40, arrived with his two sons, Abubakar Musa, 10, and Awwali Musa, 15. Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that he served as the chief finance officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he oversaw the group’s financial operations, logistics and resource management.
Security operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a motorcycle and ₦40,000 in cash from the surrendered suspect. Military authorities said Usman and his children are undergoing profiling and further interrogation to obtain intelligence that could aid ongoing operations against remaining ISWAP fighters and their support networks.
Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace across the North-East and urged other insurgents to take advantage of the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by surrendering, while also calling on members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support counter-terrorism efforts.
