Troops Identify ISWAP Governor, Top Commanders In Lake Chad Crackdown

The military has identified several senior leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including the group’s “Wali” (Governor), following recent offensive operations by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the Lake Chad region of northern Borno State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the breakthrough followed the recovery of high-value intelligence materials during operations against the terrorist group.

According to the statement, troops recovered “several technical devices and other high-value intelligence materials, including a camcorder used by ISWAP terrorists to record propaganda videos and document operational activities.”

It added that “subsequent forensic exploitation of the recovered devices generated actionable intelligence, leading to the identification of locations associated with terrorist activities as well as identities of several senior ISWAP leaders 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 military identified the suspects as Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, described as the Wali (Governor) of ISIS West Africa Province; his deputy and Amirul Jaish, Muhammad Jidda, also known as “The One-Handed Man”; and Hamad Abu Hanifa, identified as the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP, among other key operatives.

Operation HADIN KAI said it was drawing public attention particularly to Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, whom it described as “the most wanted terrorist leader operating within the Lake Chad Basin.”

The statement said the military would offer “a substantial financial reward to any individual whose credible and actionable information directly leads to his arrest.”

It assured that “all information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and the identity of informants will be fully protected in accordance with established security procedures.”

The military urged members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations by providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in locating and apprehending the suspects.

It advised citizens to report relevant information through established security reporting channels or via 0708 498 8859, while cautioning that members of the public should not confront or attempt to apprehend the suspected terrorists under any circumstances