Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and uncovered evidence pointing to the involvement of foreign terrorist facilitators, including a Palestinian trainer and a Moroccan doctor, following a failed terrorist attack in Borno State.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the military, the breakthrough came after troops of the 19 Brigade, Sector 3, repelled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP fighters into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area on Saturday night.
Goni said the terrorists launched the attack at about 10:20 p.m., hoping to exploit the cover of darkness to overrun the military position and loot cholera medical supplies.
He said vigilant troops detected the movement early and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing 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 said.
The military noted that the terrorists’ attempt to steal cholera supplies appeared to validate recent intelligence reports indicating an outbreak of the disease within ISWAP enclaves, as well as claims that some infected members had been executed by the group.
A major breakthrough during the operation was the killing of an ISWAP cameraman, whose Sony camcorder was recovered by the troops.
According to Goni, preliminary forensic analysis of the footage revealed highly sensitive operational recordings and propaganda materials that exposed the involvement of four senior ISWAP commanders and three foreign terrorist facilitators.
Among those identified were a Palestinian Arab known as Abu Ishaq, believed to be ISWAP’s chief trainer, and a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, who reportedly serves as a medical doctor within the terrorist network. A third Arab operative was also captured in the recordings, although his identity has yet to be established.
The Army said the discovery reinforces intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to receive external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist assistance.
Following the encounter, troops conducted exploitation operations across the area and recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat items.
The military also said satellite imagery obtained after the firefight showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their dead fighters during their withdrawal. It added that credible human intelligence sources later confirmed that the group suffered heavy casualties, while several others sustained gunshot wounds.
Two soldiers were wounded during the exchange of gunfire and were airlifted for advanced medical treatment. The Army said both personnel are in stable condition.
Describing the operation as another major setback for ISWAP, Goni said the failed infiltration capped a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations by troops across the North-East.
He added that the latest success demonstrated the increasing difficulty ISWAP faces in carrying out coordinated attacks against highly alert troops, while further weakening the group’s combat capability, morale and operational freedom.
The Army reaffirmed that Operation Hadin Kai would continue sustained offensive operations aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are restored across the North-East.
