Troops Arrest Suspected Foreign ISIS Operative After Foiling ISWAP Attack in Borno

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected foreign operative believed to have links with the Islamic State (ISIS) following a failed attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

The development was disclosed by counter-insurgency and security analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited military sources familiar with the operation.

According to the report, troops successfully repelled a coordinated ISWAP attack on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area before launching exploitation operations along the withdrawal routes used by the fleeing insurgents.

During the follow-up operation, security forces reportedly recovered several operational materials allegedly abandoned by the attackers, including high-frequency hand-held radios (HHRs) and other communication equipment believed to be vital to the group’s command and control network.

“Among the items recovered were high-frequency hand-held radios (HHR), communication equipment considered crucial to the command and control structure of the terrorist group,” the report stated.

Makama said intelligence obtained from the recovered materials enabled troops to extend operations into the Lake Chad Islands axis and Abadam Local Government Area, where they apprehended a fleeing suspect described as an Arab of Moroccan origin with suspected links to ISIS.

According to the report, military sources disclosed that the suspect had previously been identified during a forensic examination of video footage recovered from a camcorder allegedly belonging to a terrorist cameraman killed during the failed Cross Kauwa attack.

“The camcorder, according to the sources, belonged to a terrorist cameraman who was killed during the failed assault on Cross Kauwa,” the report added.

The suspect was subsequently evacuated by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter to a secure military facility, where he is currently undergoing interrogation.

Security agencies are investigating his alleged role within the terrorist organisation, including possible involvement in operational planning, training, communications and media activities, as well as his reported links to ISIS.

The arrest is part of ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating across the Lake Chad region and Nigeria’s North-East.