Top ISWAP commanders surrender to Nigerian troops

Two top ISWAP commanders, including a bomb-making specialist, have surrendered to Nigerian troops in Yobe State, while two informants were captured in Borno.

Two high-ranking commanders from the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) have officially thrown in the towel. They surrendered to the fierce troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Yobe State, waving the white flag after realizing the game was up.

According to an operational report dropped on Thursday in Abuja by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the duo walked into the 159 Battalion’s base in Geidam on June 8 to give themselves up.

Here is a quick look at who just walked off the battlefield:

• Ismail Mohammed: A heavy-hitting commander who served directly under the notorious terrorist leader, Baa Shuwa. Word is he has deep, insider knowledge of ISWAP’s entire playbook.
• Abu Umar: The group’s literal “rocket scientist.” He is described as an ISWAP engineer and a specialist in Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs).

Losing Abu Umar is a massive hit to the insurgents. The NAN report noted that he is believed to know exactly “where such explosives were produced and stored in ISWAP camps.” Both men are currently locked down in military custody, and you can bet intelligence officers are asking a lot of questions.

The wins didn’t stop there, though. Over in Borno State, the military kept the pressure dialed up by bagging two suspected terrorist informants. One of the moles was plucked straight out of Damboa town on June 9 by a joint team of the 19 Battalion, 25 Brigade Garrison, and the Civilian Joint Task Force.