Boko Haram has released an obituary video for one of its videographers and cameramen, identified as Abu Salim al-Barnawi, who was killed by Nigerian troops during a failed attack on a military base.
The three-minute, three-second video, obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, is narrated in Arabic and features Abu Salim al-Barnawi filming Boko Haram operations while also taking part in the group’s activities.
The Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, who shared the video, said the deceased terrorist had previously led raids into Cameroon before joining the group’s media unit.
The caption accompanying the video reads: “Boko Haram terrorist has put out an obituary of a dead raid commander and videographer, Abu Salim al-Barnawi.”
It further states: “He was smoked last week by the Nigerian Army when the terrorist group attacked a Nigerian military camp. He was the cameraman. He previously led raids into Cameroon before joining the media wing of the terrorist group.”
Abu Salim al-Barnawi in fighting gear
The development comes days after troops of Operation Hadin Kai announced that they had neutralised a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cameraman during a failed infiltration attempt by terrorists at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to Capt. Goni, the terrorists had attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to overrun the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies but were repelled by the soldiers.
He said the operation led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat items.
Al-Barnawi with a fellow terrorist
Goni also disclosed that video materials recovered 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 serving as a medical doctor for the group in Borno State.
