Troops kill Boko Haram propaganda chief, two media operatives in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operative who reportedly served as the group’s chief photographer and propaganda coordinator.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, Abu Salim was among several insurgents killed when terrorists attempted to overrun a military base in Cross Kauwa, Borno State, on July 12, 2026.

The military said the attempted attack was successfully repelled by troops, resulting in the deaths of multiple insurgents, including Abu Salim.

Also killed during the operation were two members of the ISWAP mobile media unit, identified as Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman.

Captain Goni stated that troops recovered a video camera and other items from the scene, confirming an earlier announcement by the military regarding materials seized during the operation.

According to the military, intelligence reports indicate that Abu Salim previously led cross-border attacks into Cameroon before being reassigned to the group’s media unit, where he allegedly photographed and filmed attacks, produced propaganda materials and supported recruitment efforts.

Operation Hadin Kai said the terrorist group had since acknowledged his death by publishing an obituary, describing it as confirmation of the losses suffered by ISWAP.

The military also said troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists during the encounter, including the reported killing of a Syrian fighter and an ISWAP commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign fighter was said to be missing.

Captain Goni said the latest operation demonstrated the impact of sustained military offensives against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

“The loss of such seasoned operatives further degrades the terrorists’ operational capability, weakens their propaganda apparatus, erodes their command structure, and diminishes their ability to spread extremist narratives and fabricate an illusion of strength,” he said.

The statement added that the reported obituary issued by the insurgent group reflected the increasing pressure being exerted by Operation Hadin Kai and the difficulty it faces in replacing experienced operatives.

Captain Goni reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling Boko Haram and ISWAP networks and restoring peace across Nigeria’s North-East

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