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The Nigerian Army has placed a combined N60m bounty on two top leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province, including the group’s governor, Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, and his deputy, Muhammad Jidda, after declaring them wanted over their alleged involvement in terrorist activities in the Lake Chad Basin.

Their identities were uncovered through forensic analysis of technical devices recovered during a recent military offensive against the terrorist group in the Lake Chad region.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

While a N50m bounty was placed on the ISWAP governor, the military offered N10m for credible information leading to the arrest of his deputy, according to fliers attached to the statement.

According to Goni, their identities were obtained after a forensic exploitation of the recovered devices, including high-value intelligence materials and a camcorder.

The statement read, “Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has recorded another significant breakthrough following recent successful offensive operations against ISWAP/ISIS terrorists in the Lake Chad region of Northern Borno State.”

He said during the operations, troops recovered several technical devices and other high-value intelligence materials, including a camcorder used by ISWAP terrorists to record propaganda videos and document operational activities.

“Subsequent forensic exploitation of the recovered devices generated actionable intelligence, leading to the identification of locations associated with terrorist activities as well as identities of several senior ISWAP leaders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis along the fringes of 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,” he said.

He further noted that Operation Hadin Kai wished to specifically draw the attention of the public to Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, the ISWAP Wali, who remains the most wanted terrorist leader operating within the Lake Chad Basin.

“The military will offer a substantial financial reward to any individual whose credible and actionable information directly leads to his arrest,” he said.

Goni, however, assured that all information received would be treated with the utmost confidentiality, adding that informants would be fully protected in accordance with established security procedures.

“Operation Hadin Kai urges members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in locating and apprehending these suspected terrorist operatives,” he stated.

The spokesman called on members of the public to report any relevant information through established security reporting channels or via 07084988859.

“Citizens are strongly advised not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspected terrorists under any circumstances,” he said.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has alleged that senior professors in Lagos State-owned universities now earn less in monthly remuneration than secondary school principals in the state’s public service.

The union described the situation as a reflection of the declining welfare of academics, while accusing the Lagos State Government of failing to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, subjecting lecturers to what it called “starvation wages,” increased tax deductions and alleged victimisation of union leaders.

The allegations were made on Wednesday during an emergency joint press conference by ASUU branches in Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), held at the ASUU Secretariat, LASU, Ojo.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Oluwaseun Babalola, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently implement the 2025 agreement in the state-owned universities.

He said the government’s failure to implement the agreement, eight months after its agreed commencement date of January 1, 2026, had worsened the condition of academic staff.

“We have invited you today to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government, the people of Lagos State, and indeed all Nigerians to the continued failure of the State Government to implement the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement in its three public universities, despite the mutually agreed commencement date of January 1, 2026,” Babalola said.

To support the union’s claim on salary disparity, Babalola displayed what he described as a payslip of a secondary school principal showing a monthly earning of N799,000, insisting that no professor in LASU currently earns such an amount.

He also criticised increased tax deductions on lecturers despite the non-implementation of the new salary structure.

“Somebody that is already complaining of what he is earning is not enough. You are increasing your deduction,” he said.

Babalola added that associate professors and professors were paying over N120,000 monthly in tax deductions from salaries he described as inadequate.

The union also demanded the unconditional reinstatement of five ASUU-LASU executives dismissed between seven and nine years ago, alleging that they were punished for their union activities.

The affected officials include former Chairman, Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi; Vice Chairman, Dr. Suenu; Secretary, Dr. Tony Dansu; Assistant Secretary, Dr. Oyekan; and Treasurer, Dr. (Mrs.) Sonibare.

Babalola alleged that the affected officials were subjected to disciplinary actions over issues connected to their union activities.

Also speaking, ASUU-LASUED Chairman, Dr. Victor Akinola, said internal mechanisms for addressing grievances within the universities had become ineffective.

He alleged that complaints from unions to governing councils and relevant authorities often received no attention, leaving lecturers without effective channels for redress.

Akinola also alleged that threats from management had created an atmosphere of fear on campuses, discouraging some lecturers from participating in union activities.

Similarly, ASUU-LASUSTECH Chairman, Comrade Murisiku Onigemo, blamed irregular promotion exercises for low morale among academic staff.

He said promotion processes had not consistently followed established guidelines, affecting staff motivation and institutional growth.

The union called on the Lagos State Government to immediately implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement in all state-owned universities from January 1, 2026, address outstanding welfare issues, reinstate the dismissed ASUU-LASU leaders and stop what it described as victimisation of union officials.

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The Commissioner of Police in charge of the August 15 Osun governorship election, Samuel Etaifo, has said no fewer than 15,000 operatives will be deployed for the poll.

Etaifo disclosed this in Osogbo, Osun State on Wednesday during a meeting with police personnel deployed for the election.

He said the deployment will include conventional policemen, specialists, the dog section, medical team and the Police Mobile Force, PMF.

According to him, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, and an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, will also be in the state to oversee the exercise.

“As I speak with you the total number of officers that will come for this election should be nothing less than 15,000. This includes conventional policemen, specialists, dog section, medical, PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of these operations are coming,” he said.

“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the IGP has deployed me here. We are supposed to arrive here about four or five days before the election but because of the heightened tension the IGP said I should come earlier.”

Etaifo said some personnel had earlier been deployed to the state following an escalation of violence ahead of the poll.

He urged officers on duty to uphold high ethical standards and act within the ambit of the law.

He warned that anyone caught trying to disrupt the conduct of a free and fair election, regardless of status, would face the full weight of the law.

*“Arrested Violators Will Be Moved To Abuja”*

The CP said anyone arrested during the election would be moved to Abuja for prosecution, noting that the governorship poll is a national event.

“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. No one arrested here in Osun during the course or after the election will be taken to any state command. This election is a federal government election. Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That’s the order,” Etaifo stated.

Electorate in Osun State will go to the polls on August 15 to elect a governor.

Fourteen candidates, including the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, are contesting in the election.