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 attack on a Nigerian military base last week.
The development was disclosed in a report by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security analyst covering the Lake Chad region.
According to the report, ISWAP circulated an obituary announcing the death of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, confirming that he was among the fighters neutralised by Nigerian troops during the attempted assault.
The report stated that Abu Salim served as one of the terrorist group’s most prominent media operatives, overseeing photography and video production used to document combat operations and produce propaganda materials for recruitment and internal mobilisation.
Before joining ISWAP’s media unit, he reportedly commanded several cross-border attacks into neighbouring Cameroon, where he led operations against security forces before transitioning into propaganda activities.
“The terrorist group circulated an obituary announcing the death of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, confirming he was among the fighters neutralised by Nigerian troops,” the report stated.
Makama said Abu Salim’s death is regarded as a significant setback to ISWAP’s propaganda machinery because he coordinated the production and distribution of the group’s operational videos and other media materials.
The confirmation of his death came days after Nigerian troops repelled the attempted attack on the military base, an operation that reportedly left several ISWAP fighters and key operatives dead.
