By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Nigerian Army, under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has neutralized Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a notorious Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander who later became the terrorist group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative, in what military authorities described as another significant setback for the insurgents’ media and operational networks.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni. The statement revealed that Abu Salim was killed during a failed terrorist assault on a military position at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026, alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman. Troops also recovered a video camera among other items during the operation.
Captain Goni said the latest operation highlights the growing effectiveness of the military’s sustained offensive campaign against Boko Haram and ISWAP. He noted that the elimination of Abu Salim and his media team has dealt a major blow to the terrorists’ propaganda machinery, further weakening their operational capabilities while limiting their ability to spread extremist narratives, recruit new members and project a false image of strength.
According to the statement, the terrorist organisation has since acknowledged Abu Salim’s death by publishing an obituary, a move the military described as further confirmation of the success of the operation and the increasing pressure being mounted on the insurgent group.
Military intelligence indicated that Abu Salim previously commanded cross-border terrorist raids into neighbouring Cameroon before he was reassigned to the group’s media wing. In that role, he coordinated the photographing and filming of terrorist attacks, produced propaganda materials and documented atrocities aimed at glorifying the group’s activities and attracting new recruits.
Operation HADIN KAI said the destruction of Abu Salim’s media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa underscores the devastating impact of ongoing military operations across the North-East.
The military disclosed that several other high-profile terrorists were also eliminated during the encounter, including a Syrian national and a Quaid identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign Arab mercenary remains unaccounted for. Several other fighters reportedly sustained serious injuries as they fled under intense military fire.
The statement added that the loss of experienced commanders and propaganda operatives is steadily eroding the terrorists’ command structure, operational effectiveness and ability to coordinate attacks, while making it increasingly difficult for the group to replace seasoned personnel.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led offensive operations aimed at eliminating the remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP, dismantling their support and propaganda networks, denying them freedom of movement and restoring lasting peace and security across Nigeria’s North-East.
