Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Nigerian military says two senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in what it described as a major breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Nigeria’s North-East.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, the two suspects, identified as Ismail Mohammed and Abu Umar, surrendered to troops on June 8 and are currently undergoing profiling and debriefing.
The military said preliminary investigations indicate that both men held strategic positions within the terrorist organisation and operated in the Mangari axis of the Lake Chad region.
According to the statement, Ismail Mohammed was a close associate of a senior ISWAP leader known as Baa Shuwa and is believed to possess extensive knowledge of the group’s command structure and operations.
The second individual, Abu Umar, was described as an explosives specialist allegedly responsible for the fabrication and maintenance of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and other combat-support equipment used by the group.
The military further disclosed that information obtained during interrogation indicated that Mohammed Khalifa, whom it identified as a member of the ISWAP Shurah Council, was killed during recent joint military operations conducted by Operation HADIN KAI.
Military authorities said the surrender of the two commanders represents a significant setback for the insurgent group, citing their experience, influence and technical expertise within the organisation.
The statement attributed the development to sustained military offensives and precision operations carried out by troops, with support from allied partners, against terrorist enclaves across the theatre of operations.
According to Operation HADIN KAI, continued military pressure has weakened terrorist networks, degraded their operational capabilities and contributed to an increase in the number of insurgents surrendering to security forces.
The military added that the latest development reflects declining morale among insurgent fighters and reinforces ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist leadership structures and restore stability to communities affected by the conflict.
Operation HADIN KAI said it would continue offensive operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and eliminating remaining threats in the North-East region.