Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have announced the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, described as the chief photographer and a leading propaganda operative of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, during a failed attack on a military location in Borno State.
The military said al-Barnawi was killed alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team during an attempted infiltration of troops’ position at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
Acting spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the terrorist group had subsequently acknowledged al-Barnawi’s death by publishing an obituary.
“The terrorist group has now been compelled to acknowledge his death through the publication of an obituary, exposing yet another significant loss within its dwindling ranks,” Goni said.
According to the military, troops recovered a video camera and other materials from the terrorists following the operation.
Goni said intelligence available to the military indicated that al-Barnawi previously led cross-border terrorist attacks into Cameroon before he was reassigned to the group’s media wing.
In that role, he was allegedly responsible for photographing and filming attacks, producing propaganda materials and presenting the group’s activities in a manner designed to glorify its atrocities, recruit vulnerable persons and mislead members of the public.
“The elimination of Abu Salim-led ISWAP mobile media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026, further underscores the devastating impact of Operation Hadin Kai’s sustained offensive operations,” the statement said.
The military added that several other fighters were killed during the failed assault, including a Syrian national and a commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari.
It said another Arab mercenary remained missing, while several key fighters sustained serious injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.
“During the failed attack, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists, eliminating several high-profile fighters, including a Syrian Arab and a Quaid named Aliyu Zabarmari, while another Arab mercenary remains missing to date,” Goni said.
“Several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.”
Operation Hadin Kai described al-Barnawi’s death as a major blow to the insurgents’ operational and propaganda capabilities.
Goni said the killing of experienced media operatives would weaken the group’s ability to produce extremist content, recruit new members, coordinate attacks and create a false impression of military strength.
“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 military maintained that the publication of an obituary by the insurgents confirmed the impact of sustained pressure on the group and demonstrated the growing difficulty it faced in replacing experienced operatives killed during military operations.
According to Goni, the shrinking ranks of Boko Haram and ISWAP, together with the deterioration of their propaganda structure, had continued to reduce their capacity to inspire supporters, attract recruits and organise attacks.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led offensive operations against the remnants of the terrorist groups.
Goni said Operation Hadin Kai would continue to pursue their fighters, dismantle their command, support and propaganda networks, deny them freedom of movement and work towards restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
