Nigerian Army Places N60m Bounty on Wanted ISWAP Leaders 

The Nigerian Army has declared two senior leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) wanted, placing a combined N60 million bounty on their heads following a major intelligence breakthrough in the Lake Chad region. The military identified the terrorist commanders after troops recovered and conducted forensic analysis on technical devices, including a camcorder used by ISWAP fighters to record propaganda videos and document their operations.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) recovered several technical devices and high-value intelligence materials during recent offensive operations against ISWAP/ISIS terrorists in northern Borno State. Forensic exploitation of the recovered devices generated actionable intelligence, leading to the identification of terrorist locations and senior 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. According to Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, the intelligence haul is one of the most significant breakthroughs in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.

The military has identified several senior ISWAP leaders and key operatives, including Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, who serves as the Wali (Governor of ISIS West Africa Province) and is described as the most wanted terrorist leader currently operating within the Lake Chad Basin. His deputy, Muhammad Jidda, also known as Amirul Jaish or “The One-Handed Man,” serves as the Commander of the Jaish unit. Other identified commanders include Hamad Abu Hanifa, the Amirul-Fiya (field commander) of ISWAP, and Ibn Muhammad, who commands the Amniyya unit. The intelligence poster released by the military contains photographs and aliases of at least 38 suspected ISWAP commanders and fighters believed to be active across northern Borno and the Lake Chad region.

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The military has placed specific bounties on the wanted terrorist leaders, with N50 million offered for Ibn Muhammad, the Commander of the Amniyya unit, and N10 million for Muhammad Jidda, the Commander of the Jaish unit. Operation Hadin Kai has specifically drawn public attention 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 anyone whose credible and actionable information directly leads to his arrest.

The military has 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 these suspected terrorist operatives. 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. Citizens are strongly advised not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspected terrorists under any circumstances. Information can be reported through established security reporting channels or via the dedicated hotline at 0708 498 8859.

The recovery of the camcorder and other technical devices represents a significant blow to ISWAP’s propaganda machinery and command structure. The military believes that denying the insurgents anonymity will disrupt their ability to move, recruit, tax communities and stage attacks. This development follows a broader pattern of pressure on ISWAP’s media and command wings, as in recent related operations, Operation Hadin Kai reportedly killed Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior propagandist and former raid commander, during a failed attack in Cross Kauwa. The public release of names, photographs and aliases suggests the military is now pursuing a strategy to deny ISWAP the anonymity it needs to operate effectively in the region.

Nigerian Army Places N60m Bounty on Wanted ISWAP Leaders 

Two Rifles, Live Ammunition Recovered as FCT Police Storm Bandits’ Hideout

In a major breakthrough against organized crime, operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have raided a suspected bandits’ hideout in Dajin Madam Forest, recovering two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition. The operation, which followed the arrest of four suspects, has dealt a significant blow to an arms supply network fueling banditry across the region.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has recorded a significant victory in its ongoing fight against kidnapping and banditry with the recovery of two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition during a targeted raid on a suspected bandits’ hideout in Dajin Madam Forest, located between Plateau and Bauchi states. The operation, conducted on August 2, 2026, by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, followed credible intelligence obtained during investigations into a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in supplying arms, ammunition, and illicit substances to bandits operating across the North-Central and North-West regions.

According to a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the breakthrough came after the arrest of four suspects who were previously paraded at the Command Headquarters on July 11, 2026. One of the arrested suspects, identified as Musbahu Ishaq, provided actionable intelligence that led operatives to the forest hideout where the criminal syndicate allegedly maintained one of its operational bases. Further investigation established that Ishaq allegedly obtained arms and ammunition from one Rabiu Hassan and supplied them to Baba Alhaji Sanusi, a suspected bandit kingpin who is currently at large and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State.

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A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of the two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition, which were allegedly concealed within the forest camp. The police spokesperson noted that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large, recover additional weapons linked to the network, and ensure all suspects are prosecuted. The command has also intensified efforts to track down Baba Alhaji Sanusi, the suspected kingpin, whose arrest is considered critical to dismantling the entire arms trafficking network.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and assured residents that sustained operations would continue until all members of the criminal syndicate are apprehended and brought to justice. He emphasized that the command remains resolute in its determination to rid the territory of criminal elements and called on residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible information through the nearest police station or the command’s emergency lines.

The police have also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities in their communities, stressing that the cooperation of citizens remains vital in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and organized crime across the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.

Two Rifles, Live Ammunition Recovered as FCT Police Storm Bandits’ Hideout

Police Launch Investigation as Three Children Die at Anambra Native Doctor’s Residence

Tragedy strikes Ideani community as three children are confirmed dead and a fourth fights for life after being discovered unconscious at a female traditional healer’s residence. The suspect, known as “Ezenwanyi,” is now in police custody.

AWKA, Nigeria – A quiet community in Anambra State has been plunged into mourning after the lifeless bodies of three children were discovered at the residence of a female native doctor in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area. The tragic incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5, 2026, has left residents reeling as they grapple with unanswered questions about how four young children ended up unconscious inside the compound of a woman popularly known in the area as “Ezenwanyi.” Three of the children – believed to be between the ages of 6 and 15 – were confirmed dead by medical doctors upon arrival at the hospital. A fourth child, who was found still breathing, remains in critical condition and is currently receiving emergency medical care.

According to eyewitness accounts, residents of Umuoduba Village raised the alarm after discovering the children lying unconscious within the female native doctor’s residential premises. The compound, which also serves as a livestock farm housing pigs and poultry birds, became the scene of a frantic rescue operation. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the harrowing moment, stating that the four children were found unconscious in the woman’s compound, with three already lifeless when they were discovered, while the fourth child was still breathing and was rushed to the hospital. The resident added that the incident has left everyone in the community in shock. Community leaders and local security personnel quickly mobilized, and the fourth child was rushed to a nearby hospital by residents before emergency responders could arrive. The identities of the deceased children and their relationship to the suspect have not yet been established.

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The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that operatives attached to the Ogidi Police Division responded immediately after receiving a distress call. In an official statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, expressed the command’s profound sadness over the discovery, explaining that upon receipt of the information, the rescue team led by police operatives rushed the victims immediately to a hospital for emergency medical attention. He regretted that three of the children were certified dead by medical doctors, while the fourth victim is currently receiving treatment in a critical condition. The female suspect, identified locally as Ezenwanyi, was arrested and taken into custody by police operatives in collaboration with community leaders. She is currently being held at the Ogidi Police Division, while the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the case for a comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and evidence-based investigation.

Videos circulating on social media showed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogidi Division, accompanied by community leaders, local security personnel, and the President-General of Ideani Community, Chief Paul Okoye, inspecting the premises shortly after the incident. The footage also captured the suspect leading security operatives around different sections of the compound, including shrines and residential areas, as stunned residents watched from a distance. Also present at the scene was the Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Mr. Stanley Nkwoka, who joined the inspection team.

As of the time of filing this report, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the identities and ages of the children, which have not been officially released, and what their relationship was with the suspect. Community members have speculated that the children may have been workers at the residence or possibly relatives, but these claims remain unverified. The cause of their deaths also remains unclear, as autopsy results are pending, with the bodies having been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and further examination. The police spokesperson expressed hope that the surviving child’s testimony, subject to medical recovery and clearance, would provide crucial clues to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga extended the command’s condolences to the bereaved families and the entire Ideani community, urging residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and allow investigators to conduct their work without interference. He reiterated that the Anambra State Police Command expresses profound sadness over this incident and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information while allowing investigators to conclude their work, adding that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Ideani and beyond, with many residents struggling to come to terms with the loss of three young lives. The incident has also reignited conversations about the activities of traditional healers and the safety of children in communities across Anambra State. As the investigation continues, the community waits for answers – and justice – for the three children whose lives were cut short in such heartbreaking circumstances.

Police Launch Investigation as Three Children Die at Anambra Native Doctor’s Residence