Two senior leaders of the Islamic State’s West African branch surrendered to Nigerian troops on June 8, 2026, in what the military command described as a “major setback” for the terrorist organisation operating in the Mangari region.
The Operation HADIN KAI announced on Thursday the surrender of two high-profile commanders of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), identified as Ismail Mohammed and Abu Umar, who were captured on June 8, 2026, and are currently in custody for profiling and debriefing.
According to the acting spokesperson for the Joint Task Force Northeast, Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, the two individuals held strategic positions within the terrorist hierarchy and operated in the Mangari region, near Lake Chad.
Ismail Mohammed was a close associate of ISWAP’s senior leader, BaaShuwa, and possessed in-depth knowledge of the group’s command structure. Abu Umar, for his part, was recognised within the network as a specialist in vehicle-mounted improvised explosive devices (IEDs), responsible for their manufacture and maintenance.
The interrogation of the two captives also confirmed the neutralization of a third leader, Mohammed Khalifa, a member of ISWAP’s Shura Council, killed during previous joint operations by the OPHK.
The military command interprets these surrenders as a sign of “growing despair” and a collapse in morale within ISWAP ranks, under the combined pressure of Nigerian offensive operations and precision strikes conducted with the support of the allied partners.
Operation HADIN KAI, launched to eradicate jihadist groups in northeastern Nigeria, says it intends to “maintain relentless pressure” on all terrorist networks active in the Lake Chad theatre.
AC/Sf/fss/gik/APA