Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and recovered video evidence revealing the presence of foreign terrorist facilitators, including a Palestinian identified as a trainer and a Moroccan serving as a medical doctor for the insurgent group in Borno State.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, the breakthrough followed a failed attempt by ISWAP fighters to infiltrate troops’ position at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday night.
Goni said the terrorists, who attacked under the cover of darkness, were attempting to loot cholera medical supplies but were detected early and repelled by troops, who inflicted heavy casualties and forced the attackers to retreat.
He said the operation led to the killing of an ISWAP cameraman and the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing operational footage and propaganda materials.
Preliminary forensic analysis of the recordings, according to the military, showed that the failed operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators. They include a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, believed to be the group’s chief trainer, a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, who 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 reinforces intelligence indicating that ISWAP continues to receive external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist assistance.
Troops also recovered several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment during the operation.
Post-engagement satellite imagery and human intelligence sources confirmed that the terrorists evacuated the bodies of several fighters killed during the encounter, while many others sustained gunshot wounds.
The military, however, disclosed that two soldiers were wounded during the firefight. They were airlifted for advanced medical treatment and are said to be in stable condition.
Operation Hadin Kai said the foiled attack marked another major setback for ISWAP and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace across the North-East.