Two high-profile commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the Lake Chad region, the military announced on Thursday.
The surrender, which took place on 8 June 2026, marks a major setback for the terrorist organisation, according to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, Acting Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force (North East).
The surrendered terrorists have been identified as Ismail Mohammed and Abu Umar. Both are currently in military custody undergoing profiling and debriefing.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Ismail Mohammed was a close associate of senior ISWAP leader Baa Shuwa and had extensive knowledge of the group’s command structure.
The second suspect, Abu Umar, was a known explosives specialist responsible for fabricating vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and other combat-support equipment used by the terrorists.
Both commanders operated within the Mangari axis of the Lake Chad region.
In a related development, the military also disclosed that another high-profile terrorist, Mohammed Khalifa, a member of the ISWAP Shurah Council, was neutralised during joint operations by Operation HADIN KAI.
The military stated that the surrender of the two commanders underscores the effectiveness of sustained offensive operations, complemented by precision engagements conducted with the support of Allied Partners. The combined pressure, it said, continues to degrade terrorist capabilities and compel increasing numbers of insurgents to surrender.
“This development further demonstrates the growing desperation and declining morale within terrorist ranks,” the statement read.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining relentless pressure on all terrorist elements until lasting stability is restored to affected communities.
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