Two senior members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, one of whom is a bomb-making expert, have surrendered to troops of 159 Battalion in Geidam, Yobe State, on June 8.
Military sources described their surrender as significant, and an indication of the successes being recorded by security forces engaged in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the Lake Chad region.
Abu Umar is a well-known engineer for ISWAP, specializing in the design and deployment of Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs), commonly referred to as car bombs.
According to the sources, the information supplied by such individuals could be extremely valuable in assisting security agencies in locating bomb manufacturing sites, storage facilities, training camps, and logistical routes utilized by insurgents.
The second insurgent who surrendered, Ismail Mohammed, is reported to be among the commanders linked to the infamous Baa Shuwa axis in the Timbuktu Triangle, an area that has long been regarded as one of the strategic strongholds of the insurgents in the North-East.
The surrender of Abu Umar is particularly noteworthy, as Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices have historically been among the most lethal weapons employed by terrorist organizations in the North-East.
VBIED attacks have targeted military installations, marketplaces, places of worship, and other public venues, leading to numerous casualties and extensive destruction.
