By: Abdullahi InuwaÂ
The wife and young son of a senior ISWAP commander who recently laid down his arms have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State, in what security sources describe as another sign of growing cracks within terrorist ranks.
Intelligence sources disclosed that Aisha Musa, 27, and her 11-year-old son turned themselves in to troops of the 3 Battalion (Main) through Kusuma Village at about 3:42 p.m. on July 29, 2026.
According to the sources, preliminary investigations revealed that Aisha is the wife of a prominent ISWAP commander who served as the group’s chief finance officer in the Jubillaram enclave before surrendering to the military on July 25, 2026.
The sources said the former insurgent leader had instructed his wife to leave the terrorist enclave with their son if he successfully escaped and surrendered to government forces.
Acting on that directive, the woman and her child made their way out of the enclave and voluntarily surrendered to troops four days after the commander’s defection.
Military sources confirmed that both mother and son underwent thorough security screening in line with standard procedures for individuals emerging from insurgent-controlled territories.
They have since been transferred to the custody of the 24 Task Force Brigade and are expected to be moved to the Headquarters of the 7 Division for detailed profiling and administrative processing.
Security officials believe the latest development reflects the increasing pressure being mounted on Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters through sustained military offensives under Operation HADIN KAI.
The continued operations, they said, are forcing more insurgents and their family members to abandon terrorist enclaves and surrender to government forces as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the remaining strongholds of the extremist groups across the North-East.
Military authorities maintained that while the overall security situation in the theatre remains relatively calm, troops remain on high alert and continue aggressive operations against terrorist elements with renewed determination and operational readiness.
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