ISIS Appoints Sani Shuwaram As New ISWAP Leader

The Islamic State’s West Africa Province has appointed Sani Shuwaram as the new leader of the group in Lake Chad.

The Shura (Judicial) Council of ISWAP named Shuwaram the leader to replace the commander, who has been appointed in an acting capacity since the demise of Malam Bako.

Bako took over leadership from Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, the late leader and son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf.

It was gathered that Shuwaram was appointed as the new leader by Alkali (Judge) Bukar Arge in Kurnawa, a remote camp in Lake Chad.

The appointment of Shuwaram as the new leader has seen him become the fifth officially recognised head of the West Africa unit.

The likes of Mamman Nur, Abba-Gana, Abu-Dawud, a.k.a. Aba Ibrahim, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, have held the position before being terminated by the military.

Shuwaram will control the group in Sambisa, Timbuktu, Tumbumma and others under the supervision of ISIS Leader, the Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.

A military source that spoke with PRNigeria claimed that the visiting ISIS envoys also discussed internal rivalries, discriminatory action and financial challenges in ISWAP.

Others were clashes between JAS factions led by Bakoura and Bukuma as well as the refusal of some Boko Haram fighters to join those that have pledged allegiance to ISWAP since Abubakar Shekau’s death.

The official said, “Apart from looking at issues of management of resources and welfare of widows and foot-soldiers, ISIS is planning to provide logistic support to ISWAP for missions in Baga, Marte and Malam Fatori”.