Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have revealed that preliminary military findings indicated that foreign terrorist facilitators were involved in the failed ISWAP attack on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, where troops of the 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), foiled an attempted infiltration by the terrorists.
The military said the successful defence of the location demonstrated the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops, who continued to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East Theatre.
According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the failed attack occurred at about 2220 hours on 11 July 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ location.
He said 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.
“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 statement added.
Captain Goni further disclosed that 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.
He explained that preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded prior to the attack indicated 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,” the statement said.
