Nigerian Army announce killing of Boko Haram chief photographer, oda members

Nigerian Army don confirm say dem kill Abu Salim al-Barnawi, one notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander.

Di Army say Abu later bicom chief photographer and propaganda operative for di terrorist group.

According to di army na during one of di failed terrorist attack for military location di killing happun last week. Dis na according to di statement wey Captain Mohammed Goni, wey be di acting Military Information Officer, for Operation HADIN KAI, release on 22 July 2026.

According to di Nigerian Army report, dem confam say Abu Salim die alongside oda members of di ISWAP mobile media team.

Oda members of di ISWAP group wey di army say dem kill include Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman.

Army say during dia operation dem recova one video camera wit oda items and di terrorist group don now acknowledge di death of di chief photographer through obituary wey dem publish.

According to di Nigerian Army, dia intelligence show say bifor now, Abu Salim al-Barnawi bin dey lead cross-border terrorist raids enta Cameroon bifor dem later carry am go di group media wing.

Na dia e dey take fotos and feem terrorist attacks, produce propaganda, and 'glorify di group atrocities to recruit pipo and deceive members of di public.' Di military say di elimination of Abu Salim-led ISWAP mobile media team during dia failed operation attempt for Cross Kauwa on 12 July 2026 further show di impact of di army to sustain offensive operations. "During di failed attack, troops inflict heavy casualties on di terrorists, eliminate several high-profile fighters including one Syrian Arab, one Quaid wey dem call Aliyu Zabarmari, while anod Arab mercenary still dey missing till today."

"Several oda key fighters suffer serious injuries as dem run under intense military pressure," di statement tok.

Di military add say Abu Salim death na anoda clear evidence say dia sustained offensive operations dey produce results. "Di loss of such experienced operatives further reduce di terrorists operational capability, weaken dia propaganda apparatus, scatta dia command structure, and reduce dia ability to spread extremist narratives and create false impression of strength," di statement tok. Nigeria military say di obituary wey di terrorist group publish na direct confamation of di pressure wey military dey put on dem. "E also show say e don dey harder for di terrorists to replace experienced operatives wey military don systematically eliminate through sustained operations."

"As dia ranks kontinu to reduce and dia propaganda machinery kontinu to spoil, di group ability to inspire, recruit, and coordinate attacks dey gradually weaken," di statement add.

Di military say dem no go stop dia operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP. Dem say dem go kontinue to do offensive operations to 'hunt down and eliminate di remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP'.

Army say dia mission na to restore complete peace to di North East region of di kontri.

For more dan 15 years now, insurgency don dey happun for North-East Nigeria.

E start for 2009, wen militant group Boko Haram launch dia first major attack against di Nigerian govment.