‘ISWAP FOUNDER’S SON, MAHMUD ALBARNAWY, SURRENDERS IN MAIDUGURI’

Babatunji Wusu –

Mahmud Mamman Nur Albarnawy, the eldest son of Mamman Nur, the founder of the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP), has surrendered to Nigeria’s Security and Civil Defence Corps in Maiduguri.
Mahmud, 22 years old, surrendered on Sunday, May 12.

Mahmud Mamman Nur Albarnawy was confirmed as the late ISWAP founder’s senior son during profiling at the NSCDC Command Headquarters in Maiduguri.

Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, quoted intelligence sources as saying that the command facilitated his surrender via his uncle in Gamborun Ngala after learning that he was eager to formally surrender to the Nigerian government.

A reputable agent was apparently dispatched to transport Mahmud to Maiduguri, where they arrived on May 11 at around 1 p.m.

The command’s intelligence officer then debriefed and profiled Mahmud.

During the process, he admitted to sneaking out of the Ali Ngulde camp in Mandara Mountain, Gwoza LGA, and residing in Gwange, the city capital, for almost a month before moving to Gamboru Ngala without causing any alarm or hardship in the villages.

While living in Gamboru Ngala, several of his late father’s friends wanted him to return to the Lake Chad region and pledge devotion to ISWAP, but he refused, citing his father’s betrayal and terrible death.

He admits to taking part in attacks in Bama, Banki, Gwoza, and other sites as a mid-level combatant for the Boko Haram organization.

Mahmud was moved to the Bulunkutu Rehabilitation Centre for further processing and supervision.