Muhammad Sani Shuwaram takes over from Al-Barnawi
After a renewed vigour and a strong determination to exterminate Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast, the Nigerian military succeeded in neutralising top commanders of the group.
Notable among those who were neutralized is Abumusab AlBarnawi alias, Habib Mohammed Yusuf. AlBarnawi was the son of the premier leader of Boko Haram, and he was the progenitor of the ISWAP faction that killed Abubakar Shekau.
Reports reaching this medium confirm that one Muhammad Sani Shuwaram has now taken over from AlBarnawi.
Shuwaram’s appointment was ratified by ISIS’s Abu Ibrahim Al-Hashimi who serves as the spiritual guide and de facto supreme commander of Boko Haram’s ISWAP faction.
According to PRNigeria, Shuwaram was appointed as the new leader of the group by members of Shurthe a (Judicial) Council of ISWAP.
The website further reported that Shuwaram was sworn by an Alkali (Judge) Bukar Arge, in a brief ceremony in KURNAWA, a remote camp in the fringes of Lake Chad Basin believed to be the de-facto headquarters of ISWAP, in Abadam Local Government Area in Borno state
Quoting unamunnamedrces, PRNigeria said Sani Shuwaram replaced Aba-Ibrahim, who was appointed by Abu-Mosab Albarnawi’s Interim Committee following a directive from the Headquarters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), in August 2021.
It added that Shuwaram would be the fifth officially recognised ISWAP figure by ISIS Central, after Mamman Nur, Abu-Mosab Albarnawwy, Abbah-Gana, Abu-Dawud, also known as Abu Hafsat Al-Ansari and Aba-Ibrahim.
In his new position, Wali is expected to oversee activities of the terror group in Sambisa, Timbuktu, Tumbumma and beyond under the general supervision of the Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the ISIS Core Leader.
The swearing ceremony took place in presence of ISIS envoys who were on a fact findings and consultations missions on the SHURA Council to find solutions to problems of ISWAP in the axis.
One of the sources said: “The envoys were present at the event to also look at the ways of resolving problems with the ISWAP group which include internal rivalries, discriminatory actions, financial challenges, refusal of Boko Haram to pledge allegiance after Shekau’s death and clashes with Bakoura-led/Buduma JAS group.
“Apart from looking at issues of management of resources and welfare of widows and foot-soldiers, the ISIS is planning to provide logistic supports to ISWAP for special missions in Baga, Marte and Malam Fatori in Northern part of Borno State.”
However, PRNigeria quoted a senior Nigerian military intelligence officer that the counter-terrorism operation would continue not minding the antics of ISWAP in the appointment and replacements of its commanders.
“This is not the first time they are claiming to be making new appointments. They can change their commanders millions of times but that will not stop the ongoing military operations geared at destroying their camps, their leaders and their fighters. We are not worried about such development of appointments and reappointments,” the intelligence officer said
