Military Intensifies Offensive After Foiling ISWAP Attack, Uncovers Foreign Terrorist Links
Nigerian troops have arrested a suspected foreign ISIS operative believed to be an Arab of Moroccan origin during intensified counter-terrorism operations in Borno State following the failed Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attack on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area.
The arrest followed a successful operation by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who repelled an attempted ISWAP infiltration on July 11, inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists and neutralising at least 20 insurgents. During the operation, soldiers also killed an ISWAP cameraman and recovered a Sony camcorder containing operational footage and propaganda materials.
According to preliminary forensic analysis of the recovered footage, the failed attack involved foreign terrorist facilitators, including a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, believed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer, a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, said to be serving as a medical doctor within the terrorist network, and another unidentified Arab operative.
Security sources said troops later intensified clearance operations across the Lake Chad islands in Abadam Local Government Area, where they apprehended a fleeing Arab suspect believed to be of Moroccan origin. The suspect was immediately airlifted by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter to a secure military facility for interrogation and intelligence exploitation.
Military authorities said the discoveries reinforce intelligence assessments that ISWAP continues to benefit from foreign support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist networks. They added that ongoing operations are aimed at dismantling the insurgents’ remaining cells and restoring lasting peace across the North-East.
