Alternative headline: Six Nabbed Over Alleged Cattle Sales Used to Finance ISWAP as Troops Record Fresh Gains
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have arrested six suspected collaborators accused of raising funds for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) through cattle trading, while the wife and son of a senior ISWAP finance operative have surrendered to the military in separate operations in Borno State.
The operations, conducted between July 27 and July 29, also led to the recovery of logistics items, including motorcycles and illicit hard drugs, as troops intensified intelligence-led offensives against terrorist networks in the North-East.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, troops of the 5 Brigade arrested the six suspects in Damasak on July 27.
Preliminary investigations, the military said, indicated that the suspects were allegedly generating funds for ISWAP through the procurement and sale of cattle at designated markets in Gubio, Damasak and Ajuwango.
Items recovered from the suspects included a Volkswagen Golf car, vehicle keys, four mobile phones of different brands, cow meat and ₦317,950 in cash.
The military said the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation.
In a separate development on July 29, the wife of a senior ISWAP finance operative and her 11-year-old son surrendered to troops of the 3 Battalion through Kusuma Village.
According to the military, preliminary findings showed that her husband, who reportedly served as ISWAP’s Chief Finance Officer in Jubillaram, had surrendered to troops on July 25 after escaping from the terrorist enclave.
The statement added that the former commander subsequently instructed his wife to surrender with their son.
Both have since been screened and are undergoing further profiling in line with established procedures.
Meanwhile, troops of the 145 Battalion, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a clearance operation in Turoh.
The military said the terrorists fled on sighting the advancing troops, abandoning logistics items during their escape.
Following exploitation of the area, troops recovered two motorcycles and large quantities of illicit hard drugs believed to have been left behind by the fleeing insurgents.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven and offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist logistics and financial networks across the North-East.
The military also encouraged terrorists willing to lay down their arms, as well as their family members, to surrender, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible and timely intelligence to support ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace, security and stability in the region.
