BORNO: Troops foil ISWAP attack, uncover Moroccan doctor, Palestinian trainer
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have foiled a major infiltration attempt by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, uncovering high-level foreign involvement within the insurgent ranks.
The successful operation, executed by the 19 Brigade, Sector 3 of the Joint Task Force, led to the discovery of a Moroccan medical doctor and a Palestinian military trainer among the fighters.
According to a press statement released on Sunday by the Acting Media Information Officer for OPHK, Captain Mohammed Goni, alert troops detected the terrorists’ movement early. The military responded with coordinated firepower, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat.
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During a follow-up exploitation of the battleground, troops recovered a Sony camcorder from a slain ISWAP cameraman, alongside terrorist uniforms, combat equipment, and rounds of PKT and 7.62 mm Special ammunition.
Foreign terrorist facilitators unmasked
Preliminary analysis of the video footage retrieved from the captured camcorder revealed that the failed operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds) and three foreign facilitators.
The foreign operatives have been identified as Abu Ishaq, a Palestinian national believed to be ISWAP’s chief military trainer; Abu Thaiba, a Moroccan national serving as a medical doctor within the terrorist network; and an unidentified Arab Operative, a third foreign national whose identity is still being investigated.
“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,” Captain Goni stated.
Cholera outbreak hits terrorist camps
The military disclosed that the terrorists’ desperate attempt to infiltrate the area was driven by a need to seize medical supplies. This aligns with recent intelligence reports indicating a severe cholera outbreak within the insurgent camps.
Post-engagement satellite imagery and human intelligence sources later confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy losses, with survivors seen evacuating the bodies of neutralized fighters and tending to numerous sustained gunshot wounds.
While the insurgents suffered a devastating blow, Captain Goni reported that two Nigerian soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the fierce firefight. They were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care and are currently in stable condition.
The military described the botched operation as another massive setback for ISWAP, capping off a costly weekend for the group under intensified military pressure across the North East.
Captain Goni reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its mission to sustain offensive operations, protect vulnerable communities, and completely dismantle terrorist networks to restore lasting peace to the region.
