A major figure in ISWAP’s media and propaganda operations has been killed during a failed terrorist assault on a military position in Borno State, according to troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
The military identified the deceased as Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram/ISWAP operative who was reportedly responsible for documenting attacks and producing propaganda materials for the group.
In a statement by the acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, the military said Abu Salim was among several terrorists eliminated during an attempted infiltration of a military location in Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
Two other members of ISWAP’s mobile media team – Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman — were also killed during the encounter, while troops recovered a video camera and other equipment from the scene.
The military said intelligence findings showed that Abu Salim previously played a role in cross-border attacks into Cameroon before being reassigned to ISWAP’s media unit, where he allegedly filmed operations, produced propaganda content and supported recruitment activities.
Operation Hadin Kai said ISWAP later confirmed his death through an obituary announcement, describing it as a sign of the pressure the group is facing from sustained military operations.
The military also reported the killing of an ISWAP commander, Aliyu Zabarmari, and a Syrian fighter during the operation, while another foreign combatant was said to be missing. Captain Goni said the loss of key operatives had further weakened ISWAP’s command structure and propaganda machinery.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to maintaining intelligence-led operations to dismantle terrorist networks and restore peace across Nigeria’s North-East.
