The Nigerian military has declared three senior leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) wanted following a major intelligence breakthrough during recent counter-terrorism operations in the Lake Chad region.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, which also promised a substantial financial reward for credible information leading to the arrest of the group’s top commander.
In a statement, the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops uncovered critical intelligence after recovering and forensically analysing technical devices seized during operations against ISWAP fighters in northern Borno State.
According to the military, the recovered items included a camcorder allegedly used by the terrorists to produce propaganda videos and document operational activities.
The analysis reportedly revealed the identities and locations of key ISWAP commanders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis along the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The wanted suspects include Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, identified as the Wali (Governor) of ISWAP, his deputy and Amirul Jaish, Muhammad Jidda, also known as “The One-Handed Man,” and Hamad Abu Hanifa, the group’s Amirul-Fiya.
Operation HADIN KAI described Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa as the most wanted ISWAP commander in the Lake Chad region and announced that a substantial financial reward would be paid to anyone whose credible and actionable intelligence leads directly to his arrest.
The military assured members of the public that all information provided would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and that the identities of informants would be fully protected.
It urged citizens to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence through established security reporting channels or by calling 0708 498 8859.
The military also cautioned members of the public not to attempt to confront or arrest the wanted suspects, advising them instead to report any useful information to security agencies immediately….See more