How Senior ISWAP finance chief, Musa Usman, surrendered to troops with two sons in Borno
By Zagazola Makama
A senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified as Musa Usman, 40, has surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State, marking another significant blow to the terrorist group’s financial and logistics network.
The surrender comes amid a fresh wave of defections from terrorist camps, with about 46 terrorists and their family members voluntarily laying down their arms in recent days as sustained land and air offensives continue to dismantle insurgent enclaves across the North-East.
Military sources told Zagazola Makama that intelligence obtained through human sources alerted troops of 24 Task Force Brigade to the planned surrender of the high-profile ISWAP member along the Ladari–Jegarawaji–Tunokalia corridor on the Gamboru–Wulgo Main Supply Route.
Acting on the intelligence, troops of 3 Battalion (Mechanised), in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and Hybrid Forces, mobilised and intercepted the terrorist at about 6:45 a.m. on July 25.
The surrendered insurgent was identified as Musa Usman, aged 40, who arrived with his two sons, Abubakar Musa, 10, and Awwali Musa, 15.
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Preliminary interrogation revealed that Musa Usman served as the Chief Finance Officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, where he was responsible for overseeing the group’s financial operations, logistics and resource management.
Items recovered from him include one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and ₦40,000 in cash.
Military sources said Musa Usman and his children are currently undergoing detailed profiling and further interrogation to extract actionable intelligence that could assist ongoing operations against remaining ISWAP elements and their support networks across the theatre.
Security analysts described the surrender as a major intelligence and operational success, noting that the defection of a senior financial manager is likely to further weaken ISWAP’s ability to sustain its operations and coordinate logistics.
The latest surrender also reinforces indications of growing disillusionment within terrorist ranks as sustained military offensives continue to degrade the group’s command structure and operational capability.
Operation HADIN KAI has reiterated its commitment to restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East and urged remaining terrorists to embrace the Federal Government’s non-kinetic initiatives by surrendering before it is too late.
The military also appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible and timely intelligence to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the region.