Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled an attempted infiltration by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, uncovering evidence that foreign nationals were actively involved in the planned assault.
The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying troops of the 19 Brigade, Sector 3, detected the movement of the insurgents early and engaged them with superior firepower.
He said the failed operation was allegedly led by four senior ISWAP commanders and supported by three foreign operatives, forcing the terrorists to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
According to Goni, troops later carried out exploitation of the battlefield, where they recovered a Sony camcorder belonging to a slain ISWAP cameraman, ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat items.
He said preliminary analysis of footage stored on the recovered device indicated that the operation involved a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, described as the group's chief trainer, a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, said to be serving as a medical doctor within the terrorist network, and another Arab operative whose identity has yet to be established.
The military said the discovery reinforced intelligence suggesting that the insurgent group continued to benefit from foreign expertise, specialist support and transnational terrorist links.
Goni also disclosed that intelligence gathered after the encounter suggested the insurgents had attempted to seize medical supplies, a development he said appeared to support recent reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist camps.
He added that post-engagement satellite imagery, backed by human intelligence, showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their slain members, while many others reportedly sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
The military spokesman said two soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire and were immediately airlifted for advanced medical treatment, adding that both personnel were in stable condition.
He described the failed infiltration as another major setback for ISWAP, noting that sustained military offensives had continued to weaken the group's operational capacity and restrict its freedom of movement across the North-East.
Goni reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI would sustain offensive operations against terrorist groups while protecting communities until peace and security were fully restored in the region.
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