 has confirmed the death of one of its top figures, Abu Yahya Al-Muhajir, in what it described as a){kind=link}
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has confirmed the death of one of its top figures, Abu Yahya Al-Muhajir, in what it described as a devastating blow to its leadership ranks.
In a statement circulated through its propaganda channels, the group announced that Al-Muhajir — a key member of its Shura Council — died following fierce clashes in the Malam Fatori axis, calling his demise its “greatest loss in recent times” in the area.
Security sources indicated that the slain commander had been actively linked to recent insurgent operations around the Lake Chad Basin, a region that has remained a hotspot of terrorist activity.
However, the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
Intelligence reports suggest he may have been fatally wounded during a failed ISWAP assault on Malam Fatori or succumbed later to injuries sustained during subsequent military airstrikes targeting fleeing insurgents.
The failed offensive, which took place on March 18, was decisively repelled by Nigerian troops, who inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. Reports indicate that no fewer than 80 terrorists were killed during the battle and follow-up operations, with additional casualties recorded among wounded fighters.
Further details from security sources suggest that as many as 84 ISWAP members may have died in total, marking one of the deadliest setbacks for the group in recent months.
The loss of a senior Shura Council member is expected to deal a significant blow to ISWAP’s command structure, even as military operations intensify across the North-East to dismantle the remnants of insurgent networks.
The development underscores the escalating intensity of counter-terrorism efforts in the region, as security forces continue to tighten the noose on extremist groups operating along Nigeria’s borders.
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