Nigerian Army Places N60m Bounty on Wanted ISWAP Leaders

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.