Operation HADIN KAI Eliminates ISWAP Chief Photographer, Weakens Terrorists’ Propaganda Network
The Nigerian military has confirmed the elimination of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander who later became the terrorist group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, in what it described as another major blow to the insurgents’ media and operational capabilities.
Abu Salim was killed during the failed terrorist attack on a military location at Cross Kauwa on 12 July 2026, alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman.
It will be recalled that troops recovered a video camera among other items after repelling the attack, a development earlier disclosed in an official statement by Operation HADIN KAI.
According to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the terrorist group has now acknowledged Abu Salim’s death through the publication of an obituary, confirming another significant loss within its diminishing ranks.
Intelligence reports indicate that Abu Salim previously led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before he was reassigned to the group’s media wing. In that role, he was responsible for photographing and filming terrorist attacks, producing propaganda materials and glorifying the group’s atrocities in an effort to recruit vulnerable individuals and spread extremist narratives.
Captain Goni said the elimination of Abu Salim and the ISWAP mobile media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa underscores the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained offensive operations against the insurgents.
He disclosed that troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists during the encounter, killing several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national and a Quaid identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another Arab mercenary remains missing. Several other key fighters were also reported to have sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.
The military noted that the death of Abu Salim represents another significant setback for ISWAP, as it not only weakens the group’s operational capability but also degrades its propaganda machinery, disrupts its command structure and reduces its ability to spread extremist ideology and project a false image of strength.
According to the military, the publication of an obituary by the terrorist group is a direct indication of the mounting pressure being exerted by Operation HADIN KAI and reflects the growing difficulty the insurgents face in replacing experienced operatives who have been systematically eliminated through sustained military operations.
“As their ranks continue to shrink and their propaganda machinery deteriorates, the group’s capacity to recruit, inspire followers and coordinate attacks is steadily being eroded,” the statement said.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven offensive operations aimed at hunting down and eliminating the remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP, dismantling their support and propaganda networks, denying them freedom of action, and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
