22.7.2026
Nigeria army troops of Operation Hadin KAI (OPHK) said a commander turned chief photographer and propagandist of Boko Haram and ISWAP, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, has been killed disrupting the activities the terror groups.
al-Barnawi was killed alongside other ISWAP members during a failed invasion of a military base in Cross Kauwa Borno State on July 12.
“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,” said Captain Mohammed Goni acting spokesperson for OPHK in a statement.
“Intelligence indicates that Abu Salim al-Barnawi previously led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon before being reassigned to the group’s media wing, where he was responsible for photographing and filming terrorist attacks, producing propaganda, and glorifying the group’s atrocities in an attempt to recruit impressionable individuals and deceive the public.
“The elimination of Abu Salim’s led ISWAP mobile media team during the failed infiltration attempt at Cross Kauwa on 12 July 2026, further underscores the devastating impact of Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained offensive operations.
“During the failed attack, troops inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists, eliminating several high-profile fighters including a Syrian Arab, a Quaid named Aliyu Zabarmari while another Arab mercenary remains missing till date.
“Several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure,” he said.
al-Barnawi...bites the bullet.