ISWAP commanders, bomb expert surrender to Nigerian troops

Two commanders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, including a suspected specialist in Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices, VBIEDs, have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Yobe State.

The Nigerian Army disclosed this in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the report, the suspects, identified as Ismail Mohammed and Abu Umar, surrendered to troops of 159 Battalion in Geidam on June 8.

The Army said Ismail Mohammed was one of the commanders under a terrorist leader known as Baa Shuwa and had detailed knowledge of ISWAP operations.

Abu Umar was described as an ISWAP engineer and specialist in vehicle-borne explosive devices.

The report said Abu Umar was believed to have knowledge of locations where such explosives were produced and stored in ISWAP camps.

Both suspects are currently in military custody for further investigation.

The Army also disclosed that troops arrested two suspected terrorist informants in separate operations in Borno State.

It said combined troops of 19 Battalion, 25 Brigade Garrison and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force arrested one of the suspects in Damboa town on June 9.

The suspect was reportedly arrested while buying farm items and mosquito nets allegedly meant for terrorists operating within Damboa Local Government Area.

According to the report, the suspect confessed during preliminary investigation to supplying logistics and providing information to terrorist elements.

He is currently in the custody of Headquarters 25 Brigade for further investigation.

In a separate operation, troops of 162 Amphibious Battalion arrested another suspected terrorist informant at about 7:00 p.m. on the same day.

The Army said the suspect remained in military custody pending further action.

The report added that troops also foiled an attempted terrorist attack on a military location after sighting suspected terrorists approaching the area on June 9.

Troops responded with fire missions to neutralise the terrorists and deny them freedom of action within the area of operation.

A follow-up operation conducted on June 10 led to the discovery of the corpses of two terrorists and a motorcycle.

The Army said preliminary assessment showed that the bodies were already decomposing, suggesting that the terrorists had been neutralised during an earlier encounter with troops in Buni Yadi.

No additional items were recovered during the search of the area.