Nigeria, June 11 -- Two senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a bomb-making specialist, have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai, a joint task force in the North-east.

Haruna Sani, acting spokesperson for the task force, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, describing the development as a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the terror-ravaged region. The statement included pictures of the suspected terror commanders and another one reported killed during one of the previous military offensives.

Mr Sani, a Nigerian Army colonel, said the commanders, identified as Ismail Mohammed and Abu Umar, surrendered to troops on 8 June and are currently in custody, u...