Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and recovered video materials indicating the presence of three foreign facilitators, including a Palestinian trainer and a Moroccan doctor, during an operation in Borno State.
This was made known by the Acting Military Information Officer of Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, in a statement on Sunday.
He said the operation followed a failed infiltration attempt by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area on Saturday night.
According to Goni, the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach troops’ positions and loot cholera medical supplies, but were detected and engaged by soldiers.
Soldiers kill ISWAP cameraman, uncover foreign terrorist trainer, doctor in Borno forest
“Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, decisively foiled the attempted infiltration, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray,” he said.
He added that the failed attempt further supported intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist camps, as well as reports that some infected members had been executed by the group.
Goni said the neutralised terrorist cameraman was found with a Sony camcorder containing operational footage and propaganda materials.
Preliminary forensic analysis of the recordings, he said, showed that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.
The foreign operatives were identified as a Palestinian Arab, Abu Ishaq, believed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan Arab, Abu Thaiba, serving as the group’s medical doctor; and another unidentified Arab operative.
“The presence and active involvement of these foreign nationals reinforce intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages,” Goni said.
He stated that troops subsequently dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations, recovering the Sony camcorder, terrorist uniforms, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, and other combat items.
Initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery, corroborated by credible human intelligence, indicated that the terrorists evacuated the bodies of some of their fighters while withdrawing, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds.
Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire and were airlifted for advanced medical treatment. They are reported to be in stable condition.
Goni described the failed infiltration as another major setback for ISWAP, saying it highlighted the growing difficulty the terrorists face in carrying out coordinated attacks against alert and combat-ready troops.
He said Operation Hadin Kai would continue offensive operations aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks across the North-East.
