Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and recovered a camcorder containing intelligence that allegedly revealed the activities of three foreign terrorist facilitators operating within the group’s ranks in Borno State.
The operation followed a failed attempt by ISWAP fighters to infiltrate troops’ position at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area on Saturday night, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni.
He said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to overrun the military position and cart away cholera medical supplies but were repelled after troops detected their movement and responded with overwhelming firepower.
According to the military, the attackers suffered heavy casualties and retreated, abandoning their mission.
Goni said the death of the group’s cameraman led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing operational footage and propaganda materials.
Preliminary analysis of the recordings, he said, indicated that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign operatives, including a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, believed to be the group’s chief trainer, a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, who reportedly serves as a medical doctor, and another unidentified Arab operative.
The military said the discovery reinforced intelligence suggesting that ISWAP continues to receive foreign support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist links.
Troops subsequently conducted exploitation operations in the area, recovering the camcorder, terrorist uniforms, ammunition and other combat equipment.
According to the statement, satellite imagery and human intelligence later confirmed that the fleeing insurgents evacuated the bodies of several of their fighters, while many others sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
The military also linked the attempted raid on the medical supplies to recent intelligence indicating a cholera outbreak within terrorist camps and reports that some infected fighters had been executed by the group.
Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the operation and were evacuated by air for advanced medical treatment. The military said both personnel were in stable condition.
Operation Hadin Kai described the failed attack as another major setback for ISWAP, reiterating its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups and restoring peace across the North-East.
(The Whistler)