The military says it has neutralised an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman and recovered multimedia materials that showed the presence of three foreign collaborators in Borno forest.
Muhammed Goni, acting information officer for Headquarters Joint Task Force (north-east) Operation Hadin Kai, in a statement on Sunday, said the foreigners include Abu Ishaq, Palestinian Arab, who is ISWAP’s overall trainer; Abu Thaiba, Moroccan Arab, who is a medical doctor within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established
Goni said the operational success took place on Saturday following a failed infiltration attempt by members of ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa LGA of Borno state.
The acting information officer said the terrorists tried to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.
“Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa local government area of Borno state, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray,” the statement reads.
“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East Theatre.
Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses.”
Goni noted that forensic analysis of footage recovered from a Sony camcorder seized during the operation indicated that the failed assault was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders and three foreign terrorist facilitators.
He said findings by the army indicated intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to receive external support, specialist expertise, and maintain transnational terrorist links.
Goni said the terrorists were attempting to loot cholera medical supplies, an action the military said corroborated recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves.
He maintained that post-engagement satellite imagery, corroborated by human intelligence, showed the insurgents evacuating the bodies of some of their fighters, while many others were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
He added that two soldiers were wounded during the encounter and evacuated by air for advanced medical treatment.
