Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralised scores of ISWAP terrorists during a failed attempt to infiltrate Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State,
Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni in a statement issued Sunday said the successful defence of the location further demonstrated the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East theatre.
He explained that the failed attack occurred at about 2220 hours (10:20 p.m.) on Saturday,11 July, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ location.
Goni stressed that 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.
He added: “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 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.”
Goni added that following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses.
During the operation, he noted that the troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62 mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat enablers. Goni said the initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery revealed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their neutralised fighters during their withdrawal.
He stated that this has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement.
Gino, however, revealed that two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care.
He said both personnel remain in stable condition.
Go said that the failed infiltration attempt represented yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North East Theatre.