Troops Arrest Suspected Foreign ISIS Operative After Borno Counterterrorism Operation

(Foreigner. Photo by Instablog)

Nigerian troops have arrested a suspected foreign Islamic State operative believed to be an Arab of Moroccan origin following a counter-terr0rism operation in Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the suspect was apprehended after troops repelled a coordinated t3rr0rist att@ck on Cross Kauwa, forcing the insurgents to flee and abandon several operational items.

During follow-up operations, soldiers recovered high-frequency hand-held radios and other communication equipment believed to be vital to the group’s command and control structure.

Intelligence obtained from the recovered materials led troops to expand their pursuit through the Lake Chad Islands toward Abadam Local Government Area, where the foreign suspect was arrested while attempting to escape.

Military sources said the suspect had already been under intelligence surveillance after investigators, working with international partners, analysed footage from a camcorder recovered after the Cross Kauwa battle.

The camera reportedly belonged to a t3rr0rist cameraman who was k!lled during the failed ass@ult.

The footage helped investigators identify the suspect, who has since been airlifted by the Nigerian Air Force to a secure military facility for interrogation.

Authorities are investigating his alleged role within ISIS, how he entered Nigeria, his links to the group’s international network, and whether he was involved in training, operational planning, communications or media production for ISWAP.