Nigerian troops have recovered operational notebooks from slain members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), shedding light on the group’s internal organisation, weapon allocations, and attack planning.
The materials were retrieved during a military operation in Mallam Fatori, a hotspot for insurgent activity in the North-East.
Brant Philip, a security analyst explained that the notebooks included the names of militants assigned to specific operations, along with their roles, weapons issued, and ammunition levels
Philip noted that similar documentation had been uncovered in insurgent positions linked to the Islamic State in Somalia, where logistics records also captured non-combat roles such as media personnel, with specific equipment assigned to them.
He said, “Notebooks captured by Nigerian troops show lists of militants mobilised for attacks, detailing their roles, weapons and ammunition.
“This level of organisation reflects a system similar to other Islamic State provinces.”
Military sources indicated that the recovered notebooks are currently being analysed to extract intelligence on the group’s operational network, communication channels and future attack plans.
The recovery comes amid renewed insurgent attacks in the region. On March 16, multiple explosions rocked Maiduguri, including at the popular Monday Market, leaving at least 23 people dead and over 100 others injured.
The attacks also affected areas around the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and a central post office junction, according to local authorities.
The incidents occurred during the ongoing Ramadan fast, when many residents were preparing to break their fast, worsening the casualty figures.
Emergency responders and security agencies evacuated victims to nearby hospitals while intensifying surveillance and patrol operations across the city.
Authorities say investigations into both the recovered materials and the recent attacks are ongoing, as efforts continue to dismantle insurgent networks in the North-East.
