- Boko Haram commanders and fighters were sidelined in appointments, neglected in welfare issues by ISWAP
The Nigerian Army says there is confusion and apprehension within the camp of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists following the massive surrender of Boko Haram terrorists.
The Nigerian Military has so far received about 1,500 Commanders and Members of the Boko Haram faction of ISWAP in a massive surrender. And about 2000 more terrorists are expected to surrender at the Lake Chad axis.
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The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement on Monday, in Abuja that the apprehension in ISWAP camp over the decision of Boko Haram terrorists to defect and surrender has forced the dwindling terror network in Northeast Nigeria to resort to using “futile propaganda via AMAQ Terrorists Media Wing to portray the group as still being a potent force in the North East.”
He said their confusion was further aggravated by the Aug. 14 turnout of the terrorists in droves, with their families, to lay down their arms and surrender at Mafa Local Government Area.
General Nwachukwu noted that in the latest defection of the terrorists, a total of 186 Boko Haram terrorists members led by their Amir, Manye Aga, comprising 67 adult males, 54 adult females and 65 children, surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI at Forward Operational Base (FOB) Ajiri.
Several items were recovered from the surrendering terrorists including, AK 47 rifles and magazines, a locally made pistol and eight locally fabricated daggers.
Nwachukwu also disclosed that the theatre took custody of additional Boko Haram fighters, comprising four adult males, 11 adult females and 18 children from Landanli, Azah, Ngaridua and Kondilla villages, who surrendered to troops of 151 Task Force Battalion at Banki Junction in Bama, on Aug. 15.
According to him, ISWAP was yet to come to terms with the reality of its current predicament, which had posed serious negative impact on its fighting prowess.
“It is also worthy of note that the terrorists are overwhelmed with palpable fear and are making desperate efforts to halt the ongoing surrender of their fighters from the Tumbus and Sambisa axis.
“The Nigerian Military is more resolute in intensifying both kinetic and non kinetic efforts in the fight against insurgency, banditry and sundry crimes in the country,” he said.
The mass surrender of the Boko Haram terrorists was triggered by the shoddy way they were treated after the death of its leader, Abubakar Shekau, as his JAS faction was completely sidelined in the new appointments of commanders.
At the death of Abubakar Shekau, the international terrorists group, Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIS) restructured the terrorist network in the Lake Chad Basin, appointing Amir Abbah Gana aka Ba-Lawan as leader of the Nigerian affiliate formed between the ISWAP and remnants of the JAS faction.
Ba-Lawan, reappointed as new leader of ISWAP six months after his removal by the Shura Council for losing the confidence of most of his loyalists and top commanders, is leading what ISIS terms Islamic Caliphate of Africa (Wilaya of Africa) covering parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
The coalition emerged when the JAS fighters, who were left with leadership vacuum after the death of Shekau, pledged allegiance to ISIS Core under the leadership of Abu Ibrahim Al-Qurashi.
Also, details of the restructure of the terrorists’ group in Nigeria shows that they now has a new name, ISISAFRICA as ISIS international annuls the name #ISWAP while dissolving the Shekau Boko Haram #JAS group, just as it declared the #Bakura faction, which has refused to merge with ISWAP, as ‘#Enemy of #ISISAFRICA.’
ISIS, sensing a new momentum to consolidate its terrorists’ operations in the Lake Chad Basin area, after renaming ISWAP #ISISAFRICA, appointed new commanders for the group.
This was days after the Armed Forces of Nigeria launched successful and destructive land and air operations against the terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin region.
But early in July, Global UPfront Newspapers (GUN) reported that the new appointments was causing tension as no former commander of the ‘defeated’ #JAS faction who switched sides to ISWAP was favoured with any position in the new #ISISAFRICA structure.
Sources said that the inability to be assimilated into the main structure is basically because of trust while others said promises have been made to the former #JAS commanders for their control over lesser and unsettled areas in the Sambisa Forest area where they are already masters of the terrain.
There was also misgivings on the emergence of Ba Lawan who was selected over Al-Barnawi because of the antecedents of the new leader. In January 2021, Ba Lawan was dismissed by the then ISWAP Shura Council after he was accused of failing to contain the rampaging wrath of the Armed Forces of Nigeria ground and air offensive strikes.
He was also found guilty of instigating the increasing and growing insurrection among fighters, regular bloodshed, bringing dishonour within ISWAP. He was replaced by the Shura Council with #Abu-Dawud, also known as Abu Hafsa Al-Ansari, after a bloody mutiny.
But the restructuring was reportedly in line with directive from ISIS Headquarters in Iraq especially with the loss of key commanders from destructive military air strikes.