Troops Eliminate ISWAP Propaganda Chief, Further Weakens Terrorist Media Network
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has confirmed the elimination of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander turned chief photographer and propaganda operative, during the failed terrorist attack on a military location last week.
OPHK’s Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday.
According to him, further reports indicate that Abu Salim was killed alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman.
TheFact Daily had reported that troops had, on the 11th of July, repelled an attempted infiltration by the terrorists into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa local government area of Borno state, killing several insurgents and recovering several items during the operation, including a video camera.
The terrorist group has since acknowledged Abu Salim’s death through the publication of an obituary, confirming another significant loss within its diminishing ranks. Intelligence reports reveal that Abu Salim previously led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before being reassigned to the group’s media wing, where he photographed and filmed attacks, produced propaganda materials, and glorified the group’s atrocities to recruit followers and mislead the public.
The military said the elimination of Abu Salim and his media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa underscores the success of Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained offensive operations. Troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists, eliminating several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national, a Quaid identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another Arab mercenary remains unaccounted for. Several other key fighters also sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.
The removal of Abu Salim and his associates represents a significant blow to ISWAP’s operational and propaganda capabilities. Beyond weakening the group’s command structure, it degrades its ability to produce extremist propaganda, coordinate attacks, and project a false image of strength aimed at attracting recruits.
The terrorist group’s decision to issue an obituary further reflects the increasing pressure being exerted by Operation HADIN KAI and the growing difficulty it faces in replacing experienced operatives who have been systematically eliminated through sustained military operations.
Military authorities affirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to sustaining intelligence-led offensive operations to eliminate the remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP, dismantle their operational and propaganda networks, deny them freedom of action, and restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.
