Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have repelled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing several insurgents and forcing the attackers to retreat.
Disclosing the development in a statement on Sunday, OPHK’s Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said the failed attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on 11 July 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.
Alert soldiers detected the movement early and responded with overwhelming firepower, frustrating what military authorities said was an attempt to loot cholera medical supplies. The development lends further credence to intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within ISWAP enclaves and claims that some infected members had been executed by the group.
A major breakthrough during the operation was the recovery of a Sony camcorder from a neutralised terrorist cameraman. The device contained operational footage and propaganda materials that are now providing valuable intelligence.
According to preliminary forensic analysis, the last video recorded before the failed assault indicates that the attack was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators. They include a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, believed to be ISWAP’s chief trainer; a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, said to be a medical doctor within the terrorist network; and another unidentified Arab operative. Military authorities said the findings reinforce intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from foreign support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist links.
Troops subsequently dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations, recovering the camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat items. Preliminary satellite imagery, corroborated by credible human intelligence, indicated that the terrorists evacuated the bodies of several fighters killed during the encounter, while many others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Two soldiers sustained gunshot injuries during the firefight and were airlifted for advanced medical treatment. Both are reported to be in stable condition.
Military authorities described the failed infiltration as another major setback for ISWAP, coming amid sustained offensive operations across the North East. They said the outcome reflects the increasing pressure on the terrorist group, whose ability to mount coordinated attacks continues to diminish as troops sustain operations to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace in the region.
