By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has suffered another major setback following the death of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a former Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander who later became the group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, alongside two other members of its mobile media team.
Operation Hadin Kai confirmed that the terrorists were killed during a failed attempt to infiltrate a military location at Cross Kauwa in Borno State on July 12, 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said Abu Salim was among several terrorists eliminated when troops repelled the attack. He identified the other members of the ISWAP mobile media team killed in the operation as Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman.
Goni said troops recovered a video camera and other items from the scene, suggesting that the media operatives were embedded with the attackers to record the assault and produce propaganda materials for the terrorist group.
The military disclosed that ISWAP has acknowledged Abu Salim’s death through the publication of an obituary, describing the development as a reflection of the increasing pressure being exerted on the group by sustained military operations.
According to intelligence reports cited by the military, Abu Salim previously served as a raid commander and led cross-border terrorist operations into Cameroon before being moved to ISWAP’s media wing. As the group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, he was responsible for documenting attacks, producing media content and promoting extremist narratives intended to attract recruits and mislead the public.
The military said the Cross Kauwa operation inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, with several high-profile fighters eliminated during the failed assault. Those killed included a Syrian Arab fighter and a commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another Arab mercenary remained missing. Several other fighters were also said to have suffered serious injuries while escaping under intense military pressure.
Captain Goni said the loss of Abu Salim and other propaganda operatives had further weakened ISWAP’s operational structure and its ability to project influence through media activities.
“The loss of such seasoned operatives further degrades the terrorists’ operational capability, weakens their propaganda apparatus, erodes their command structure, and diminishes their ability to spread extremist narratives and fabricate an illusion of strength,” he said.
He added that ISWAP’s decision to issue an obituary for Abu Salim demonstrated the pressure the group was facing and the challenge of replacing experienced fighters lost during military offensives.
“As their ranks continue to shrink and their propaganda machinery deteriorates, the group’s capacity to inspire, recruit and coordinate attacks is steadily being eroded,” Goni said.
Operation Hadin Kai reiterated its commitment to continuing intelligence-driven operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants, stressing that troops would sustain efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their support and propaganda structures, deny them freedom of action and restore peace and security across the North-East.
