By Chimezie Godfrey
The military has confirmed the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior ISWAP propaganda operative and former raid commander, during a failed terrorist attack on a military position in Borno State, describing the development as a major blow to the terrorist group’s media and recruitment network.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, Abu Salim was eliminated alongside other members of the terrorist group’s mobile media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman, during the failed infiltration of troops’ position at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
Goni said the recovery of a video camera during the operation, earlier announced by the military, had further corroborated the identities and roles of the slain operatives.
He disclosed that ISWAP has since acknowledged Abu Salim’s death by publishing an obituary, a move the military said confirmed the success of the operation and exposed another major setback for the terrorist organisation.
According to the statement, intelligence reports revealed that Abu Salim previously commanded cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before he was redeployed to the group’s media unit, where he coordinated the filming and photography of attacks, produced propaganda materials and promoted extremist narratives aimed at recruiting new members.
“The elimination of Abu Salim’s ISWAP mobile media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa further underscores the devastating impact of Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained offensive operations,” Goni stated.
He added that troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists during the encounter, killing several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national and a Quaid identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign mercenary believed to be of Arab origin remains missing.
The military also said several other terrorists sustained serious injuries as they fled under sustained military pressure.
Goni described the operation as further evidence that the military’s ongoing intelligence-led offensives are steadily degrading both the operational and propaganda capabilities of Boko Haram and ISWAP.
He noted that the death of experienced operatives weakens the terrorists’ command structure, disrupts their propaganda machinery and reduces their capacity to recruit, coordinate attacks and project an image of strength.
“The issuance of an obituary by the terrorist group is a direct confirmation of the increasing pressure being exerted by Operation HADIN KAI. It also reflects the growing difficulty the terrorists face in replacing experienced operatives who have been systematically eliminated through sustained military operations,” he said.
He reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI would sustain intelligence-driven offensive operations to eliminate the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, dismantle their logistics and propaganda networks, deny them freedom of action and restore lasting peace across the North-East.