Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have repelled an attempted attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting what the military described as heavy casualties on the attackers and recovering a camcorder said to contain sensitive operational footage.
This was contained in a statement by the Acting Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force, Capt. Mohammed Goni, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, when the insurgents attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to overrun the location occupied by troops of the 19 Brigade, Sector 3.
The military said troops detected the terrorists and responded with coordinated firepower, forcing the attackers to abandon the operation and retreat.
The military alleged that the insurgents had intended to loot cholera medical supplies from the location, a development it said supports recent intelligence suggesting a cholera outbreak within terrorist camps around the Lake Chad region.
During the engagement, troops reportedly neutralised a terrorist identified as a cameraman and recovered a Sony camcorder containing videos of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.
According to the military, preliminary forensic analysis of the recordings suggests that the failed attack was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders alongside three foreign facilitators allegedly linked to the group.
The foreign nationals were identified by the military as a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, described as ISWAP’s overall trainer, a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, who was said to serve as a medical doctor within the terrorist network, and another unidentified Arab operative.
The military said the findings reinforce intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to receive external support, specialist expertise and maintains transnational terrorist connections. The claims have not been independently verified.
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Following the firefight, troops conducted exploitation operations across the area and recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat-related items.
The army also said analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery, corroborated by human intelligence, indicated that the fleeing insurgents evacuated the bodies of some of their fighters while withdrawing, with many others believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The military disclosed that two soldiers were wounded during the exchange of fire. Both were evacuated by air for advanced medical treatment and are said to be in stable condition.
Describing the operation as another significant setback for ISWAP, the Theatre Command said the failed attack reflects the increasing difficulty insurgents face in carrying out coordinated assaults against military positions due to sustained offensive operations across the North East.
The command reiterated its commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist groups, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling insurgent networks until lasting peace and security are restored in the region.
