The Nigerian military has dealt another significant blow to the financial and operational network of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), arresting six suspected collaborators accused of financing terrorist activities, while also receiving the surrender of the wife and son of a senior ISWAP finance commander in Borno State.
The latest breakthroughs, achieved through intelligence-driven operations under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), are part of the military’s sustained campaign to dismantle the logistics, funding channels and supply chains that have enabled terrorist groups to sustain their insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed in a statement that the operations were successfully conducted between July 27 and July 29 across different parts of Borno State.
According to the military, troops of the 5 Brigade arrested six suspected ISWAP collaborators during an operation in Damasak on July 27 after acting on credible intelligence.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly operated an organised cattle-trading network used to generate funds for ISWAP. The military said the suspects procured and sold cattle at designated markets in Gubio, Damasak and Ajuwango, with proceeds allegedly channelled into financing terrorist operations.
Security sources believe the cattle trade has become one of the insurgents’ key revenue streams, allowing the group to sustain logistics, procure supplies and support its fighters despite sustained military offensives.
Items recovered during the operation included a Volkswagen Golf vehicle, vehicle keys, four mobile phones of different brands, a quantity of cow meat and ₦317,950 in cash suspected to be proceeds from the illicit transactions.
The six suspects are currently in military custody and are undergoing further investigation.
In another major development, troops of the 3 Battalion received the surrender of the wife of a senior ISWAP finance operative alongside her 11-year-old son through Kusuma Village on July 29.
Military authorities disclosed that the woman’s husband, who reportedly served as ISWAP’s Chief Finance Officer in Jubillaram, had earlier surrendered to troops on July 25 after escaping from the terrorist enclave.
Captain Goni explained that after successfully surrendering to military authorities, the former commander instructed his wife to also surrender with their son, leading to their safe arrival at the military location.
The military said both mother and child have undergone initial screening and are currently being profiled in line with established procedures for surrendered insurgents and their family members as security agencies continue to gather intelligence.
Meanwhile, troops of the 145 Battalion recorded another operational success during a clearance operation in Turoh after receiving credible intelligence on terrorist activities within the area.
The insurgents reportedly fled upon sighting the advancing troops, abandoning critical logistics equipment during their escape.
A subsequent exploitation of the area led to the recovery of two motorcycles and large quantities of illicit hard drugs believed to have formed part of the terrorists’ logistics and operational support system.
Military authorities said the recovered items would aid ongoing investigations into the supply networks sustaining terrorist activities across the North-East.
Reaffirming its determination to end insurgency in the region, Operation HADIN KAI said troops would continue to intensify intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling terrorist logistics, financial structures and supply chains.
The military also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies while encouraging terrorists willing to abandon violence to surrender and embrace the Federal Government’s deradicalisation and reintegration process.