Army places N60m bounty on wanted ISWAP leaders
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday described the January 15, 1966 coup, the July 29, 1966 counter-coup and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election as some of Nigeria’s “black days,” urging citizens to learn from the country’s past in the interest of national unity and development.
Obasanjo made the remarks in Umuahia during the 60th memorial service held in honour of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, who was assassinated on July 29, 1966.
He also renewed his call for the reintroduction of History as a subject in Nigerian schools, saying understanding the nation’s past is essential to avoiding a repeat of previous mistakes.
“Nigeria has many black days, and because of these black days, we must remember history to learn the right lessons,” Obasanjo said.
Reflecting on some of the country’s defining moments, he said Nigerians should focus on the lessons they offer rather than the divisions they created.
“July 29 is one black day in the history of Nigeria. January 15 is another black day. The annulment of June 12 was also a black day. But the question is: what lessons do we learn from them?” he asked.
According to the former president, many of Nigeria’s historic crises were characterised by exclusion, destruction and division, stressing the need for inclusion and cooperation.
“Most of these black days excluded, destroyed and separated us. But we can learn the right lessons and draw inspiration for inclusion, construction, cooperation and bringing our people together,” he said.
Obasanjo also reflected on his relationship with Aguiyi-Ironsi, describing the late military leader as a father figure who treated younger officers with care and respect.
He commended Aguiyi-Ironsi’s military service, recalling his role during the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo and noting that he became Nigeria’s first indigenous Captain, Major, Lieutenant-ColonelThe Nigerian Army has placed a total bounty of N60 million on two senior leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) after identifying them during recent military operations in the Lake Chad region.
The Army declared the Governor of ISWAP, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, also known as Wali, and his deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, wanted following the recovery and forensic analysis of technical devices seized during an offensive by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Goni, troops recovered several technical devices, intelligence materials and a camcorder used by ISWAP fighters to record propaganda videos and document their operations.
He said forensic exploitation of the recovered items provided actionable intelligence that led to the identification of terrorist locations and several senior ISWAP commanders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis along the Lake Chad Basin in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
“The identified terrorist leaders and key operatives include: Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa – Wali (Governor of ISIS West Africa Province), his deputy/Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda (‘The One-Handed Man’) and Hamad Abu Hanifa, the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP, among others,” the statement said.
Goni described Abu Musa as the most wanted terrorist leader currently operating within the Lake Chad Basin.
He said the military would offer a substantial financial reward to anyone who provides credible and actionable information leading to Abu Musa’s arrest, assuring that the identities of informants would be fully protected.
The Army urged members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations by reporting useful information through established security channels or by calling 0708 498 8859.
It also warned Nigerians not to confront or attempt to arrest the suspects under any circumstances.
The military placed a N50 million bounty on Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa and a N10 million bounty on Muhammad Jidda, bringing the total reward to N60 million for information leading to their arrest.
, Brigadier and Major-General.
The former president urged Nigerians to preserve the memories of leaders who made sacrifices for the country.
