CRIME
Military Neutralises ISWAP Chief Photographer, Others In North-East Operation •
Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has confirmed the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram/ISWAP operative who served as the terrorist group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, during a failed attack on a military position last week.
Military authorities said Abu Salim was killed alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman, during the operation. A video camera used by the media team was also recovered at the scene, alongside other items previously listed in an official statement issued by Operation HADIN KAI.
The military said the terrorist group has since acknowledged Abu Salim’s death through the publication of an obituary, describing it as further evidence of the significant losses being inflicted on the group’s leadership and support structures.
According to intelligence reports, Abu Salim previously commanded cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before he was reassigned to ISWAP’s media wing. In that role, he was responsible for documenting terrorist attacks through photographs and videos, producing propaganda materials, and disseminating extremist content aimed at recruiting new members and projecting the group’s operational strength.
The military said the elimination of Abu Salim and his media team occurred during the terrorists’ failed attempt to infiltrate the military position at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
During the encounter, troops reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, killing several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national and an ISWAP commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari. Another foreign fighter described as an Arab mercenary remains unaccounted for, while several other terrorists were said to have sustained serious injuries as they retreated under sustained military pressure.
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Operation HADIN KAI said the latest development highlights the effectiveness of its sustained offensive operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP, noting that the loss of experienced operatives weakens the terrorist group’s operational capability, disrupts its propaganda machinery, degrades its command structure, and limits its ability to spread extremist narratives.
The military added that the publication of an obituary by the terrorist group reflects the growing pressure being exerted by ongoing military operations and underscores the challenges the group faces in replacing experienced operatives who have been systematically eliminated.
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According to Operation HADIN KAI, the continued degradation of the group’s media and propaganda network is expected to further reduce its capacity to recruit fighters, coordinate attacks, and project influence.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led offensive operations aimed at eliminating the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP elements, dismantling their logistics and propaganda networks, denying them freedom of movement, and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
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