Troops repel ISWAP attack, recover video exposing foreign terror operatives

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled an attempted attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State, killing a suspected terrorist cameraman and recovering video evidence linking foreign operatives to the group’s activities.

The military said the terrorists launched the attack on troops stationed at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area on Saturday night but were forced to retreat after encountering stiff resistance.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said the insurgents had attempted to infiltrate the military position under the cover of darkness to steal cholera medical supplies.

He said alert troops detected the movement early and responded with coordinated firepower, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to abandon the operation.

During a follow-up exploitation of the area, troops recovered a Sony camcorder from a slain ISWAP cameraman alongside ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment.

According to the military, preliminary analysis of the video recordings found on the device revealed that the failed operation involved four senior ISWAP commanders and three foreign facilitators.

The foreign nationals were identified as a Palestinian, Abu Ishaq, believed to be the group’s chief trainer, a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, who reportedly serves as a medical doctor within the terrorist network, and another Arab operative whose identity has yet to be established.

The military said the discovery further supports intelligence that ISWAP continues to receive foreign expertise and external support.

It also noted that the terrorists’ attempt to seize medical supplies appeared to corroborate recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak in insurgent camps.

Capt. Goni said satellite imagery and intelligence reports confirmed that the fleeing terrorists evacuated several bodies from the battlefield, while many others sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange.

Two soldiers were injured in the encounter and were airlifted to a medical facility for treatment. The military said both personnel are in stable condition.

Operation Hadin Kai described the failed assault as another major blow to ISWAP, saying sustained military offensives have continued to degrade the group’s operational capacity and limit its freedom of movement across the North-East.