Two ISWAP Commanders Surrender to Nigerian Troops in Borno

The Nigerian Army has secured the surrender of two high-ranking commanders from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during ongoing military operations in the Lake Chad region. The officers, identified as Ismail Moham and Abu Umar, gave themselves up to troops on June 8, 2026. Abu Umar is described by military sources as a specialist in explosives engineering and the design of improvised explosive devices fitted to vehicles.

The surrenders occurred under Operation Hadin Kai, the armed forces' counter-insurgency initiative spanning Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Yobe states. A spokesperson for the joint task force, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani, disclosed the development in a statement released on Thursday. The two commanders held strategic positions within ISWAP's operational hierarchy in the Mangari axis of the Lake Chad basin.

Reports from the military also indicate that a senior ISWAP leader named Mohan Khalifa was killed during separate combat operations. The military characterised the recent developments as significant achievements in an ongoing campaign aimed at dismantling terrorist networks across the region.

The intelligence yielded by the surrendered commanders is expected to provide critical insights into ISWAP's command structure and operational methods. Military sources indicated that such defections represent setbacks for the insurgent group's cohesion and capability in the theatre. The 159 Battalion, operating from Geidam in Yobe State, was cited as instrumental in facilitating the June 8 surrender.