ABUJA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Abu Salim al-Barnawi, identified by the Nigerian military as the chief propagandist of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has been killed during a failed attack on a military base in the country's northeastern state of Borno.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the military said Abu Salim was killed alongside several other senior ISWAP members and members of his media team, during the July 12 attack targeting a military base in Cross Kauwa, a town in Kukawa Local Government Area.
The military said one mercenary fighting for ISWAP has been declared missing, while several other key fighters were seriously wounded as they fled under intense military pressure during the repelled attack.
According to the statement, before heading ISWAP's mobile media unit, Abu Salim had led cross-border terrorist raids into Cameroon. He was later reassigned to the group's media wing.
The Nigerian military said it would sustain operations against terrorist groups to further degrade their operational capability and weaken their ability to recruit members, spread propaganda and coordinate attacks. ■