Army Declares ISWAP Governor, Deputy Wanted, Places N50m Bounty

• The Nigerian Army has declared two top ISWAP leaders wanted after intelligence recovered from seized devices during operations in the Lake Chad region exposed key terrorist commanders and operational locations.

The Nigerian Army has declared the Governor of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa (Wali), and his deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, wanted following a major intelligence breakthrough during recent operations in the Lake Chad region.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni, announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to Goni, the identities of the wanted terrorist leaders were uncovered after forensic analysis of technical devices recovered from ISWAP fighters during recent offensives in Northern Borno State.

He said the recovered items included high-value intelligence materials and a camcorder allegedly used by the terrorists to record propaganda videos and document their operational activities.

“Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has recorded another significant breakthrough following recent successful offensive operations against ISWAP/ISIS terrorists in the Lake Chad region of Northern Borno State,” the statement read.

Goni explained 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.”

He identified the suspects as “Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa – Wali (Governor of ISIS West Africa Province), his deputy/Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda (“The One-Handed Man”), and Hamad Abu Hanifa, the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP, among others.”

The Army described Abu Musa as the most wanted ISWAP leader currently operating within the Lake Chad Basin.

“The military will offer a substantial financial reward to any individual whose credible and actionable information directly leads to his arrest,” Goni said.

He assured members of the public that all information received would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and that the identities of informants would be fully protected in line with established security procedures.

Goni further appealed to Nigerians to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations by providing credible and timely intelligence that could assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending the wanted suspects.

He urged anyone with useful information to report through established security channels or by calling 0708 498 8859.

The Army also warned citizens against attempting to confront or arrest any of the suspects.

“Citizens are strongly advised not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspected terrorists under any circumstances,” he said.

The development comes as Operation Hadin Kai continues to intensify military offensives against ISWAP and other terrorist groups in the North-East, with intelligence-driven operations yielding fresh breakthroughs in the fight against insurgency.