Army declares top ISWAP leaders wanted, offers cash rewards

The Nigerian Army has declared several senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) wanted after recovering intelligence materials during recent military operations in the Lake Chad region of Borno State.

The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the breakthrough followed a forensic analysis of technical devices recovered from terrorists during sustained offensives.

According to him, troops seized several high-value intelligence materials, including a camcorder allegedly used by ISWAP members to record propaganda videos and document operational activities.

He said the forensic exploitation of the recovered devices generated actionable intelligence that led to the identification of key terrorist leaders and locations linked to ISWAP operations within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.

Among those declared wanted are Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, identified as the Governor (Wali) of ISWAP, his deputy and Amirul Jaish, Muhammad Jidda, also known as “The One-Handed Man,” and Hamad Abu Hanifa, identified as the group’s Amirul-Fiya.

Goni described Abu Musa as the military’s most wanted ISWAP commander operating in the Lake Chad Basin, adding that security agencies are seeking credible information that could lead to his arrest.

He said the military would provide substantial financial rewards for actionable intelligence leading to the arrest of the wanted commanders.

According to the statement, a ₦50 million bounty has been placed on Ibn Muhammad, the commander of ISWAP’s Amniyya unit, while Muhammad Jidda carries a ₦10 million reward.

The spokesman assured members of the public that the identities of informants would be treated with strict confidentiality in line with established security procedures.

He urged residents to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations by reporting credible information through designated security channels or via the dedicated hotline, 0708 498 8859.

Goni, however, warned citizens against attempting to confront or apprehend any of the wanted suspects, stressing that such information should be left to security agencies to act upon.