By our reporter 12.7.2026
Nigeria army troops of “Operation Hadin Kai” said they repelled an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP to infiltrate its base in Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to a statement by Captain Mohammed Goni acting military information officer Headquarters Joint Task Force (Northeast) Maiduguri, the insurgents were spot by troops on alert as they attempted to breach their positions and troops opened overwhelming fire on them, inflicting multiple causalities.
“The failed attack occurred at about 2220 hours (10:20 p.m.) on 11 July 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ location. 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.
“The attempted looting further lends credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports of the execution of some affected members by the group,” the statement read.
He said a Sony camcorder was recovered from one of the slain terrorists and troops were able to scoop data from it, confirming the presence of foreign actors in the bloodletting that has rocked the Northeast for years.
“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials. Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded prior to the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.
“They include a Palestinian Arab identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established. 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.”
