Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have recorded a significant development in the counter-insurgency campaign in North-East Nigeria following the surrender of two senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Military authorities said the insurgents, identified as Ismail Mohammed and Abu Umar, voluntarily surrendered on June 8. Both men are currently in military custody undergoing profiling and debriefing.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, Acting Media Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, said preliminary investigations showed that the two commanders held strategic positions within the terrorist group and operated around the Mangari axis of the Lake Chad region.
According to the military, Mohammed was a close associate of senior ISWAP leader Baa Shuwa and had extensive knowledge of the group's command structure, operational networks and activities.
Abu Umar was described as a key explosives specialist responsible for the fabrication and maintenance of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and other combat-support equipment used in insurgent operations.
The military also disclosed that intelligence obtained during ongoing interrogations indicated that Mohammed Khalifa, a prominent member of the ISWAP Shura Council, was recently killed during joint operations conducted by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
Defence authorities described the surrender of the two commanders as a major setback for ISWAP, citing their operational experience, influence and technical expertise within the organisation.
Military officials said the development reflects the impact of sustained ground and air operations targeting terrorist enclaves across the North-East.
“The decision of these commanders to surrender underscores the success of sustained offensive operations by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, supported by precision engagements conducted with allied partners,” the statement said.
Security analysts say information provided by the surrendered commanders could support ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating within the Lake Chad Basin.
The military added that continued operations have weakened the capabilities of terrorist groups, disrupted command structures and contributed to an increase in the number of insurgents abandoning the fight.
Authorities also said the latest surrender points to declining morale among terrorist fighters, who are facing sustained military pressure and shrinking operational space.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist groups until peace and stability are restored across affected communities in the North-East.
