The Nigerian Army has uncovered the identities of four senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and three foreign terrorist facilitators following a failed attack on Cross Kauwa community in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The breakthrough came after troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled an attempted infiltration of the community during an intelligence-led operation, recovering critical materials that have provided valuable insight into the terrorist group’s operations.
Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed that intelligence extracted from a camcorder recovered at the scene linked the operation to top ISWAP commanders and foreign nationals allegedly providing strategic support to the insurgents.
According to Goni, the findings further highlight the group’s continued access to external expertise and international terrorist networks.
“The presence and active involvement of these foreign nationals further reinforces intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages,” he said.
The Army identified one of the foreign facilitators as Abu Ishaq, a Palestinian Arab reportedly serving as ISWAP’s chief trainer. Another suspect, Abu Thaiba, was identified as a Moroccan national allegedly working as a medical doctor within the insurgent network. The identity of a third foreign operative has yet to be confirmed.
Military authorities also revealed that preliminary investigations indicate the attackers may have intended to loot cholera-related medical supplies, a development they said supports intelligence suggesting a disease outbreak within insurgent camps in the Lake Chad region.
Troops reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists during the failed assault, forcing them to retreat while abandoning intelligence materials that are now being analysed by security agencies.
The Nigerian military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups and dismantling the networks supporting insurgency across the North-East.
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