Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised an Islamic State West Africa Province cameraman and recovered video materials indicating the presence of three foreign facilitators, including a Palestinian Arab identified as a trainer and a Moroccan Arab serving as a medical doctor for the terrorist group in Borno State.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the operational success was recorded on Saturday following a failed infiltration attempt by members of ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.

The statement read, “Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East Theatre.”

The failed attack, he said, occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” Goni said.

He said the attempted looting further lends credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports of the execution of some affected members by the group.

“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.

“Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded prior to the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators. They include a Palestinian Arab identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established,” he added.

He said the presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals further reinforced intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.

“Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses,” he added.

The Army spokesman said troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat items during the operation.

He further stated that initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery revealed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their neutralised fighters during their withdrawal.

“This has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement,” he said.

According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care, adding that both personnel remained in stable condition.

“The failed infiltration attempt represents yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North East Theatre,” he said.

He added that the outcome underscored the increasing difficulty the terrorists faced in executing coordinated attacks against highly alert and combat-ready troops while further degrading their combat capability, morale and freedom of action.

“Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North East,” he assured.

Five persons, including four children, have died after landslides triggered by 48 hours of heavy rainfall in Ikot Anwatim Community, Calabar Municipality, Cross River.

The landslides reportedly destroyed two houses and injured two other residents, according to the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA).

The CR-SEMA confirmed the casualties during the launch of a rapid assessment of the affected community on Saturday.

The assessment team was led by CR-SEMA Director-General, Mr Efa Nyong, alongside officials from the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Addressing bereaved families and survivors, Nyong conveyed the Cross River Government’s condolences and sympathised with victims over the tragic incident.

He described the deaths, especially those of four children, as heartbreaking and assured affected families of government support through humanitarian interventions.

“This assessment will document the disaster’s impact to guide government decisions on emergency assistance and long-term disaster risk reduction,” Nyong said.

He urged residents of landslide and erosion-prone communities to promptly report land cracks, remain vigilant and obey evacuation directives whenever necessary.

Nyong stressed that climate-related disasters were becoming more frequent, requiring sustained public awareness and stronger collaboration between government and communities.

He said the rapid assessment demonstrated CR-SEMA’s commitment to proactive disaster response, coordinated emergency management and protecting lives and property across Cross River.

The assessment team recommended immediate humanitarian assistance for affected families and sustained medical care for injured victims.

It also called for a comprehensive geotechnical assessment of the affected terrain to determine long-term safety and appropriate mitigation measures.

The team further advocated intensified public sensitisation on landslide risks and possible relocation of residents living in high-risk areas as heavy rainfall persisted.

Uche Nnaji, a former minister of innovation, science and technology, is set to be arraigned before a federal high court on Monday, 13 July.

According to reports, Nnaji is expected to be arraigned before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the anti-graft agency prosecuting the former minister.

The former minister’s arraignment  followed the conclusion of the investigation into his certificate forgery scandal and filing of criminal charges against the former minister.

The ICPC had filed six criminal charges against Mr Nnaji over his certificate forgery scandal.

Nnaji was arrested by officials of the anti-graft agencyon 1 July at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight.

His arrest followed a publicationby Premium Times, which revealed that the then-minister forged his UNN degree and NYSCcertificates, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The six-count charge against Nnaji, according to Premium Times, are:

Count one states that Mr Nnaji “took possession” of N29.5 million (N29,578,466.67) through his Fidelity Bank account as basic salary and allowances while serving as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, “when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud.”

The ICPC argued that, by this act, Mr Nnaji committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count two accuses him of using his ministerial office to “confer corrupt advantage” on himself during the same period. “You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000,” the charge sheet reads.

Under count three, the ICPC alleges that Mr Nnaji, “with intent to mislead the Federal Government of Nigeria, knowingly gave false information” by presenting a “false Certificate of National Service” (Certificate Number: A231309) to the government for his ministerial appointment.

The commission said he committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count four alleges that, in August 2023, Mr Nnaji knowingly gave “false information” by presenting a Microbiology/Biochemistry degree certificate (Certificate Number: 004501) to the government, knowing it to be false, thereby violating the same section of the Corrupt Practices Act.

In count five, the ICPC alleges that, around May 1986, Mr Nnaji knowingly produced a false document – the Certificate of National Service (No. A231309) – and used it as genuine, committing an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 354 of the Penal Code.

Count six alleges that Geoffrey Nnaji Uchechukwu (63), of Plot 1855, Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro, Abuja, knowingly produced a false document – a “University Degree Certificate of Microbiology/Biochemistry with Certificate Number: 004501”—purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, around July 1985.

He is accused of using the document as genuine, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.