Nigerian troops have foiled a late-night infiltration by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing several insurgents and recovering a camcorder said to contain sensitive footage linking foreign operatives to the terrorist group’s activities.
The failed assault occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on Saturday when the insurgents attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to overrun the military position. Alert troops of the 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, detected the movement early and responded with overwhelming firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the military said the terrorists had planned to loot cholera medical supplies during the raid, a development it said lends further credence to intelligence reports suggesting a cholera outbreak within ISWAP enclaves.
According to the military, one of the insurgents killed during the encounter was an ISWAP cameraman. Troops recovered his Sony camcorder, which allegedly contained operational footage and propaganda materials now undergoing forensic examination.
Preliminary analysis of the recordings, the military said, indicates that the failed operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders working alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.
The foreign nationals were identified by the military as a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, described as ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, said to be a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity has yet to be established.
Military authorities said the discovery reinforces intelligence assessments that the terrorist group continues to receive external support, specialised expertise and transnational backing despite sustained military offensives against its fighters.
Following the firefight, troops carried out exploitation operations and recovered the Sony camcorder, PKT ammunition, 7.62mm special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.
The military also disclosed that post-engagement satellite imagery allegedly captured the terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their dead fighters during their retreat. It added that the imagery was corroborated by human intelligence sources, which confirmed that many insurgents were killed or wounded in the failed operation.
Two Nigerian soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire and were immediately airlifted for advanced medical treatment. The military said both personnel are in stable condition.
Describing the operation as another major blow to ISWAP, the military said the failed infiltration underscores the growing difficulty the terrorist group faces in launching coordinated attacks against combat-ready troops, while reflecting the continued pressure being mounted on insurgents across the North-East theatre of operations.