Army offers reward for ISWAP governor’s capture
The Nigerian Army has declared top ISWAP leaders, including its governor Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, wanted after an intelligence breakthrough in the Lake Chad region.
The Nigerian Army has declared top Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leaders, including the group’s governor, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, and his deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, wanted following a major intelligence breakthrough in the Lake Chad region. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni.
According to the military, the suspects were identified after forensic analysis of technical devices, including a camcorder used by terrorists to record propaganda videos, recovered during recent operations in northern Borno. The intelligence also revealed key terrorist locations within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis in Abadam and Kukawa local government areas. The Army described Abu Musa as its most wanted terrorist leader in the Lake Chad Basin and offered a substantial financial reward for credible information leading to his arrest, assuring informants of confidentiality and urging the public not to confront the suspects.
The declaration of ISWAP’s governor as wanted is a significant development in the counter-insurgency campaign. The group has been responsible for numerous attacks in the Lake Chad region, and the capture of its leadership could deal a major blow to its operations. The offer of a reward suggests that the military is confident that it has the intelligence to track down the suspects.
This echoes the 2021 declaration of Boko Haram leaders as wanted, which also involved rewards for information. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a focus on targeting terrorist leadership.
The winners: the Nigerian military, which has gained valuable intelligence; and the Nigerian public, who may benefit from improved security. The losers: ISWAP, which faces the loss of its leadership; and the Nigerian government, which must sustain the momentum.
Bottom Line: The Army is offering a reward for ISWAP’s governor. The intelligence breakthrough is significant. The question is whether the reward will lead to his capture.