Nigerian troops of Operation HADIN KAI said that they have arrested a suspected foreign ISIS operative believed to be of Moroccan origin during ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Borno State, following the failed attempt by Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters to infiltrate Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area.
The arrest came after troops repelled a coordinated attack on Cross Kauwa, forcing the insurgents to retreat while abandoning weapons and other operational materials. According to security sources cited by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on Tuesday, troops launched exploitation operations after securing the area, conducting search and pursuit missions along the routes used by the fleeing terrorists.
During the operation, soldiers recovered high-frequency hand-held radios and other communication equipment believed to have been abandoned by the insurgents during their withdrawal. The recovered materials reportedly provided intelligence that enabled troops to extend their pursuit into the Lake Chad Islands axis towards Abadam Local Government Area, where the foreign suspect was eventually arrested.
Military sources said the suspect had earlier come under intelligence scrutiny following forensic analysis of video footage extracted from a camcorder recovered after the Cross Kauwa encounter. The camcorder was said to belong to a terrorist cameraman who was killed during the failed assault.
According to the sources, extremist groups often deploy media operatives alongside assault teams to document attacks for propaganda, recruitment, and operational assessment, adding that the recovered footage assisted investigators in identifying the suspect. Following his arrest, the suspect was evacuated by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter to a secure military facility, where he is undergoing interrogation.
Military authorities are expected to investigate his role within the terrorist organisation, his entry into Nigeria, possible links to the wider Islamic State network, and any involvement in training, operational planning, or media activities for ISWAP.
Security sources described the arrest as a significant intelligence breakthrough that could provide fresh insights into the structure, financing, and international connections of terrorist groups operating within the Lake Chad Basin.
The sources also noted that the development reinforces previous intelligence indicating that some foreign nationals provide technical support to extremist groups in the region in areas such as training, communications, media production, explosives handling, and operational coordination.
They, however, stated that interrogation of the suspect is ongoing and that additional details could not be disclosed for operational security reasons. According to the sources, intelligence obtained from the suspect may assist ongoing counter-terrorism operations by identifying additional terrorist cells and exposing cross-border movement routes used by insurgents.
