The Nigerian Army has declared Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, the Governor (Wali) of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the most wanted terrorist leader operating within the Lake Chad Basin, promising a substantial financial reward for information leading to his arrest.
The military assured that the identities of individuals who provide credible and actionable intelligence would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
The declaration followed recent offensive operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) against ISWAP fighters in northern Borno State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops recovered high-value intelligence materials, including a camcorder allegedly used by ISWAP operatives to produce propaganda videos and document their activities.
According to the statement, forensic analysis of the recovered devices generated actionable intelligence that led to the identification of several senior 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.
Besides Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, the military identified Muhammad Jidda, also known as “The One-Handed Man,” the group’s deputy and Amirul Jaish, as well as Hamad Abu Hanifa, the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP, among other key operatives.
The Army urged members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations by providing credible and timely intelligence through established security reporting channels or via 0708 498 8859.
It, however, warned citizens against attempting to confront or apprehend the suspects, stressing that all information received would be handled confidentially in line with established security procedures.
