Nigerian Troops Kill ISWAP Propaganda Chief Abu Salim al-Barnawi and Members of His Media Team

Nigeria's military says it has killed Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) propaganda operative, along with two members of his mobile media team, during a failed terrorist attack on a military position in Borno State on July 12, 2026.

In a statement issued Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer at Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the military said Abu Salim was killed alongside Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman during the failed infiltration of a military location at Cross Kauwa. Troops recovered a video camera and other items from the scene, which the military said corroborated the presence of the media operatives during the attack.

According to Operation HADIN KAI, Abu Salim was a former Boko Haram/ISWAP raid commander who had previously led cross-border attacks into neighboring Cameroon before being reassigned to ISWAP's media wing. In that role, he was responsible for photographing and filming attacks, producing propaganda materials, and promoting the extremist narratives the group has relied on for recruitment and for projecting an image of strength.

The military said the encounter at Cross Kauwa also killed several other high-profile fighters, including a Syrian national and a commander identified as Aliyu Zabarmari, while another foreign mercenary involved in the attack remains unaccounted for. Several other terrorists were reported to have sustained serious injuries while fleeing under military pressure.

Captain Goni said the elimination of Abu Salim's team deals a significant blow to ISWAP's propaganda apparatus, degrading the group's ability to document its operations, produce recruitment material, and sustain the image-building that underpins its messaging. He said Operation HADIN KAI remains committed to sustained, intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling Boko Haram and ISWAP networks and restoring peace across Nigeria's North-East.

ISWAP has since acknowledged Abu Salim's death, circulating an obituary describing him as one of its most prominent media operatives an admission the military says confirms the scale of the losses the group has suffered in recent operations.

Mustapha Bature Sallama.
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal investigation and Intelligence Analysis.

International Conflict Management and Peace Building.USIP

[email protected]
+233-555-275-880
References / Sources
PRNigeria "Troops Eliminate ISWAP Chief Photographer, Media Team in Borno Operation" https://prnigeria.com/2026/07/22/troops-eliminate-iswap-chief/

Daily Post Nigeria "ISWAP chief propagandist, two media operatives killed in failed attack Army" https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/22/iswap-chief-propagandist-two-media-operatives-killed-in-failed-attack-army/

AllAfrica "Nigeria: Troops Intensify Offensive Against Terrorist Propaganda Network, Confirm Killing of ISWAP Chief Photographer, Foreign Accomplices" https://allafrica.com/stories/202607230153.html

Daily Post Nigeria "ISWAP confirms death of propagandist, Salim al-Barnawi during failed attack on military base" https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/22/iswap-confirms-death-of-propagandist-during-failed-attack-on-military-base/

P.M. News "Military eliminates ISWAP media chief, top commanders" https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/07/22/military-eliminates-iswap-media-chief-top-commanders/