Boko Haram Releases Obituary For Their Cameraman Killed By Nigerian Army

Boko Haram has released a video tribute to one of its media operatives, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, who was killed during a failed attack on a Nigerian military position, according to military authorities.

The three-minute, three-second video, obtained on Wednesday, is narrated in Arabic and features the late insurgent filming the group’s activities while also taking part in several of its operations.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, confirmed the development, stating that Abu Salim al-Barnawi had previously led cross-border raids into Cameroon before later becoming a member of the terrorist group’s media unit.

According to Goni, the footage released by Boko Haram serves as an obituary for the slain operative.

“Boko Haram terrorist has put out an obituary of a dead raid commander and videographer, Abu Salim al-Barnawi,” the accompanying military note stated.

It added that the insurgent was killed last week when terrorists attempted to attack a Nigerian military camp.

“He was the cameraman. He previously led raids into Cameroon before joining the media wing of the terrorist group,” the statement said.

The latest development comes weeks after Operation Hadin Kai announced the killing of another terrorist cameraman during a failed infiltration by fighters believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

As previously reported by StarNews NG on July 12, troops successfully repelled an attempted night-time attack on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. Military authorities said the terrorists had planned to overrun the position and loot cholera medical supplies.

Capt. Goni disclosed that intelligence gathered during the operation pointed to the presence of three foreign facilitators within the terrorist network, including a Palestinian identified as a trainer and a Moroccan reportedly serving as a medical doctor for the group.

The military also recovered a Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment from the scene.

Authorities say the recovered materials are expected to aid ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.