Troops Kill ISWAP Cameraman, Recover Propaganda Footage, Expose Foreign Terror Links In Borno
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have dealt a major blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), killing a terrorist cameraman, recovering sensitive propaganda footage and inflicting heavy casualties on insurgents during a foiled infiltration attempt in Borno State.
The Nigerian military disclosed on Sunday that the terrorists’ attempt to infiltrate Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area was successfully repelled after troops responded with overwhelming firepower, forcing the insurgents to retreat in confusion.
Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Goni, said the attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, when ISWAP fighters attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to penetrate the military position.
According to him, vigilant troops detected the advancing terrorists early and launched a coordinated counter-offensive that crushed the assault before the insurgents could achieve their objective.
He explained that the terrorists had planned to loot cholera medical supplies but abandoned the mission after suffering devastating losses under intense military fire.
A major breakthrough during the operation was the neutralisation of an ISWAP cameraman, whose death led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing what the military described as highly sensitive operational footage and terrorist propaganda materials.
Preliminary forensic examination of the recovered recordings revealed that the failed operation was allegedly coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.
Among those identified were a Palestinian Arab known as Abu Ishaq, believed to be ISWAP’s chief trainer, and a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, reportedly serving as a medical doctor within the terrorist network. Investigators are also working to establish the identity of another Arab operative captured in the intelligence materials.
Goni said the involvement of foreign nationals further validates intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to receive external support, specialised expertise and operational assistance through transnational terrorist networks.
During follow-up exploitation of the battlefield, troops recovered PKT ammunition, 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.
The military also disclosed that post-engagement satellite imagery showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of several slain fighters from the battlefield. The imagery, according to Goni, was subsequently corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that many insurgents were killed while several others sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
Despite the successful operation, two Nigerian soldiers sustained gunshot injuries during the firefight. They were immediately airlifted to a medical facility for advanced treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
The military described the failed infiltration as another significant operational setback for ISWAP, noting that it capped a difficult weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North-East theatre.
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