Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) says its troops have eliminated Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram/ISWAP operative who headed the terrorist group’s mobile media and propaganda team, in what it described as another major setback for the insurgents’ operational and recruitment capabilities.
In a statement signed by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the military said Abu Salim was killed during the failed terrorist attack on a military location at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
According to the statement, Abu Salim, who previously served as a raid commander leading cross-border attacks into Cameroon, was later reassigned to the group’s media wing where he coordinated the production of propaganda materials, including photographs and videos of terrorist operations aimed at recruiting members and spreading extremist narratives.
The military said Abu Salim was killed alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman. It added that a video camera used by the media unit was recovered during the operation, as earlier reported by Operation HADIN KAI.
The statement noted that the terrorist group has since acknowledged Abu Salim’s death by publishing an obituary, which the military described as confirmation of the significant losses inflicted on the insurgents.
Operation HADIN KAI also disclosed that the failed infiltration at Cross Kauwa resulted in the deaths of several other high-profile terrorists, including a Syrian national and a Quaid identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign mercenary remains missing. Several other fighters reportedly sustained serious injuries as they retreated under sustained military pressure.
The military said the elimination of the media operatives has further weakened ISWAP’s propaganda machinery, disrupted its command structure and reduced its ability to recruit new members and project an image of strength.
According to the statement, the issuance of an obituary by the terrorist group reflects the increasing pressure mounted by Operation HADIN KAI and highlights the growing challenge insurgents face in replacing experienced operatives eliminated during ongoing military offensives.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustained intelligence-led operations to eliminate the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, dismantle their support and propaganda networks, and restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.
