TROOPS NEUTRALISE ISWAP CAMERAMAN, IDENTIFY FOREIGN TERROR OPERATIVES IN BORNO FOREST
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By: Muftau Fatimo
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised a cameraman of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and uncovered evidence pointing to the presence of foreign terrorist facilitators operating within the group in Borno State.
The Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Goni, the breakthrough followed a failed infiltration attempt by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area on Saturday night.
He said the terrorists attempted to take advantage of the cover of darkness to overrun troops’ positions and loot cholera medical supplies but were swiftly repelled by soldiers, who inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers and forced them to retreat.
“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North-East theatre,” the statement read.
Goni explained that the attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, when alert troops detected the advancing insurgents and responded with coordinated firepower, foiling their mission and forcing them to flee after suffering significant losses.
He noted that the attempted theft of cholera medical supplies corroborates recent intelligence indicating a cholera outbreak within terrorist camps, as well as reports that some infected members had been executed by the group.
During the operation, troops neutralised an ISWAP cameraman and recovered a Sony camcorder containing operational footage and propaganda materials.
According to preliminary forensic analysis, the latest video recorded before the attack revealed that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.
The foreign operatives were identified as a Palestinian Arab known as Abu Ishaq, believed to be ISWAP’s chief trainer; a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, who serves as a medical doctor for the group; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be confirmed.
Goni said the discovery further reinforces intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from foreign support, specialised expertise and transnational terrorist networks.
Following the encounter, troops conducted exploitation operations across the area to determine the full extent of the terrorists’ losses.
Items recovered during the operation included the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment.
The Army spokesman added that post-operation satellite imagery showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their slain fighters, a development later confirmed by credible human intelligence sources, which indicated that several insurgents were killed while many others sustained gunshot wounds during the failed assault.
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