The wanted ISWAP leaders. [Credit: Nigerian Army]
The Nigerian Army has placed a combined N60m bounty on two top leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province, including the group’s governor, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, and his deputy, Muhammad Jidda, after declaring them wanted over their alleged involvement in terrorist activities in the Lake Chad Basin.
Their identities were uncovered through forensic analysis of technical devices recovered during a recent military offensive against the terrorist group in the Lake Chad region.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
While a N50m bounty was placed on the ISWAP governor, the military offered N10m for credible information leading to the arrest of his deputy, according to fliers attached to the statement.
According to Goni, their identities were obtained after a forensic exploitation of the recovered devices, including high-value intelligence materials and a camcorder.
The statement read, “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.”
He said during the operations, 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.
“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.
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“The identified terrorist leaders and key operatives include 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,” he said.
He further noted that Operation Hadin Kai wished to specifically draw the attention of the public to Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, the ISWAP Wali, who remains the most wanted terrorist leader 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,” he said.
Goni, however, assured that all information received would be treated with the utmost confidentiality, adding that informants would be fully protected in accordance with established security procedures.
“Operation Hadin Kai urges members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in locating and apprehending these suspected terrorist operatives,” he stated.
The spokesman called on members of the public to report any relevant information through established security reporting channels or via 07084988859.
“Citizens are strongly advised not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspected terrorists under any circumstances,” he said.
