Troops Kill ISWAP Cameraman, Recover Footage Linking Foreign Operatives in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed an alleged cameraman of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and recovered video recordings said to reveal the involvement of foreign operatives within the terrorist group’s network in Borno State.

The military said preliminary analysis of materials recovered from the operation identified a Palestinian believed to be a trainer and a Moroccan serving as a medical doctor for the insurgents.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to him, the breakthrough followed a failed attempt by ISWAP fighters to infiltrate troops’ positions at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday night.

Goni said the terrorists had attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to overrun the military position and cart away cholera medical supplies but were repelled by troops.

“Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray,” he said.

He explained that the attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, adding that troops detected the advancing insurgents early and responded with coordinated firepower.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” Goni stated.

The Army said the attempted theft of cholera supplies appeared to support recent intelligence reports suggesting an outbreak of the disease within ISWAP camps.

According to the statement, intelligence also indicated that some infected members of the group had reportedly been executed by the insurgents.

The military said one of those killed during the encounter was the group’s cameraman.

A Sony camcorder recovered from him allegedly contained operational footage and propaganda materials produced by the terrorist organisation.

Goni said a preliminary forensic review of the recordings pointed to the involvement of four senior ISWAP commanders and three foreign facilitators.

He identified one of them as a Palestinian Arab, Abu Ishaq, who is believed to be the group’s chief trainer, while another, identified as Moroccan Arab Abu Thaiba, was described as a medical doctor attached to the terrorist network.

A third foreign operative featured in the footage has yet to be identified.

“The presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals further reinforces intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages,” the military spokesman said.

Following the operation, troops conducted exploitation patrols across the area and recovered the camcorder, terrorist uniforms, ammunition and other combat items abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.

The military also said satellite imagery and human intelligence confirmed that ISWAP suffered significant casualties during the failed attack, with surviving members seen evacuating the bodies of those killed while several others sustained gunshot wounds.

Two soldiers were injured during the exchange of gunfire and were airlifted for specialist medical treatment.

According to Goni, both personnel are in stable condition.

He described the failed attack as another major setback for ISWAP, saying sustained military operations had continued to degrade the group’s fighting capability and restrict its freedom of movement across the North-East.

Goni reaffirmed that Operation Hadin Kai would continue offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace in the region.