The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has confirmed the death of its chief photographer and senior raid commander, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, who was reportedly killed during a failed assault on a Nigerian military base last week.
The confirmation was contained in an obituary circulated by the terrorist group, according to a report by counter-insurgency and security analyst Zagazola Makama, who covers the Lake Chad region.
According to the report, Abu Salim was among the ISWAP fighters neutralised by Nigerian troops during the botched attack.
Regarded as one of the group’s most influential media operatives, Abu Salim supervised ISWAP’s photography and video production, documenting combat operations and producing propaganda content used for recruitment and internal mobilisation.
Before heading the group’s media operations, he reportedly led several cross-border attacks against security forces in neighbouring Cameroon before transitioning into propaganda and media activities.
Makama said Abu Salim’s death deals a major blow to ISWAP’s propaganda network, as he coordinated the production and distribution of the group’s operational videos and other media content.
The confirmation comes days after Nigerian troops successfully repelled the attempted attack on the military base, an operation that reportedly left several ISWAP fighters, including key commanders, dead.
