Follow Us on Google
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed a senior Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander-turned-propaganda operative, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, during a failed terrorist attack on a military position in Cross Kauwa, Borno State.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, who said Abu Salim was among several terrorists neutralised during an attempted infiltration of a military location on July 12, 2026.
According to the statement, Abu Salim was killed alongside two members of the ISWAP mobile media team, identified as Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman.
Captain Goni said troops also recovered a video camera and other equipment from the scene, corroborating an earlier announcement by the military following the operation.
He explained that intelligence reports revealed that Abu Salim had previously led cross-border terrorist attacks into neighbouring Cameroon before being reassigned to ISWAP’s media unit.
In his propaganda role, Abu Salim was allegedly responsible for photographing and filming terrorist attacks, producing propaganda materials and supporting the group’s recruitment efforts.
Other News
Operation Hadin Kai further disclosed that ISWAP had acknowledged his death by publishing an obituary, describing the development as confirmation of the significant losses suffered by the terrorist group during the failed attack.
The military added that the operation also resulted in the reported killing of a Syrian fighter and an ISWAP commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign fighter remains unaccounted for.
Captain Goni said the successful operation underscores the effectiveness of sustained intelligence-driven military offensives against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
“The loss of such seasoned operatives further degrades the terrorists’ operational capability, weakens their propaganda apparatus, erodes their command structure, and diminishes their ability to spread extremist narratives and fabricate an illusion of strength,” he said.
He noted that the obituary reportedly issued by the insurgent group further demonstrated the increasing operational pressure being mounted by Operation Hadin Kai and the group’s growing difficulty in replacing experienced personnel.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling Boko Haram and ISWAP networks while restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East region.
