By Ahmed Liman Kingimi, Maiduguri
The Nigerian military has confirmed the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander turned chief photographer and propaganda operative, during a failed terrorist attack in Borno State last week.
Operation HADIN KAI, the Joint Task Force for the North East, said in a statement on Tuesday that al-Barnawi was eliminated alongside other members of the ISWAP mobile media team during an attempted infiltration of a military location in Cross Kauwa on July 12, 2026.
It will be recalled that on July 13, ABC News reported the killing of foreign facilitators, including the group’s media commander.
Those also killed include Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman. A video camera and other items were recovered from the scene, according to the military.
According to intelligence obtained by Operation HADIN KAI, al-Barnawi previously led cross-border raids into Cameroon before being reassigned to the group’s media wing. In that role, he was responsible for photographing and filming attacks, producing propaganda content, and glorifying the group’s atrocities to aid recruitment and deceive the public.
The military said the strike also killed other high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national and a Quaid named Aliyu Zabarmari. Another Arab mercenary remains missing, while several others reportedly sustained severe injuries while fleeing under intense military pressure.
In what the military described as further proof of the operation’s impact, the terrorist group has now published an obituary acknowledging al-Barnawi’s death — a rare public admission that highlights losses within its dwindling ranks.
“The elimination of Abu Salim’s led ISWAP mobile media team further underscores the devastating impact of Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained offensive operations,” the statement signed by Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said.
The military noted that the loss of experienced operatives like al-Barnawi degrades the terrorists’ operational capability, weakens their propaganda apparatus, erodes command structure, and diminishes their ability to spread extremist narratives.
Operation HADIN KAI said it remains committed to “relentless, intelligence-driven offensive operations” to hunt down remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP, dismantle their support and propaganda networks, and restore peace and security across the North East.
The killing of key media operatives comes amid sustained military pressure that has forced the insurgent group to struggle to replace skilled fighters and propagandists, according to security sources.
About The Author
