Troops Kill ISWAP Media Chief, Propaganda Team in Major Blow to Terror Group

The Nigerian military has confirmed the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior ISWAP operative who headed the group’s mobile media and propaganda unit, describing the development as a significant setback to the terrorist organisation’s operations.

Operation HADIN KAI, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, said Abu Salim was among several terrorists killed during a failed attack on a military position at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.

According to the military, Abu Salim, a former Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander, had later become the group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, overseeing the production of videos and images used to promote terrorist activities, recruit new members and spread extremist narratives.

The military said intelligence reports confirmed that Abu Salim was killed alongside other members of ISWAP’s mobile media team, identified as Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman. It noted that a video camera used by the group was recovered during the operation, corroborating an earlier statement by Operation HADIN KAI.

“The terrorist group has now been compelled to acknowledge his death through the publication of an obituary, exposing yet another significant loss within its dwindling ranks,” the statement said.

Operation HADIN KAI disclosed that Abu Salim previously led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before being redeployed to the media unit, where he documented attacks and produced propaganda materials intended to project the group’s strength.

The military said troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists during the failed infiltration, killing several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national, a commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign fighter believed to be an Arab mercenary remains missing. Several other insurgents were reportedly wounded as they retreated under sustained military pressure.

The operation described the latest success as evidence that ongoing intelligence-led offensives are steadily degrading the operational and propaganda capabilities of Boko Haram and ISWAP.

It added that the reported obituary issued by the terrorist group reflected the increasing pressure on its leadership and the growing difficulty in replacing experienced operatives eliminated during military operations.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations across the North-East to dismantle the remaining terrorist cells, disrupt their support and propaganda networks, and restore lasting peace and security in the region.