By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have eliminated a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) propaganda operative, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, alongside other members of the group’s mobile media team.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, the military said Abu Salim was killed during the failed terrorist attack on a military position at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
According to the statement, Abu Salim, a former Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander who later became the group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, was eliminated alongside Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman, both members of the ISWAP mobile media team.
The military recalled that a video camera was among the items recovered after the failed assault, providing further evidence of the group’s media activities during the operation.
Operation HADIN KAI said the terrorist group has since acknowledged Abu Salim’s death by publishing an obituary, describing it as confirmation of the significant losses suffered by ISWAP in recent military operations.
Military intelligence indicated that Abu Salim previously led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before he was reassigned to the group’s media unit, where he coordinated the filming and photography of attacks, produced propaganda materials, and promoted extremist narratives aimed at recruitment and misinformation.
The statement noted that the failed infiltration at Cross Kauwa resulted in heavy casualties for the terrorists, including the elimination of several high-profile fighters.
Among those reportedly killed was a Syrian national, while an ISWAP commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari was also neutralised. Another foreign fighter described as an Arab mercenary remains missing, while several other terrorists reportedly sustained serious injuries as they retreated under sustained military pressure.
The military said the deaths of the senior operatives have significantly weakened the group’s operational and propaganda capabilities, disrupted its command structure, and reduced its capacity to disseminate extremist messages and project an image of strength.
According to Operation HADIN KAI, the publication of an obituary by ISWAP further reflects the mounting pressure on the terrorist organisation and its increasing difficulty in replacing experienced operatives lost during ongoing military offensives.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led offensive operations aimed at eliminating the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP elements, dismantling their support and propaganda networks, denying them freedom of action, and restoring lasting peace and security across Nigeria’s North-East.
