ISWAP Releases Video Claiming Responsibility for Kukawa Attack Amid Military Gains
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has released a propaganda video claiming responsibility for the recent attack on Garin Kukawa in Borno State.
The footage, which runs over three minutes, showcases the group’s mobilization and attack scenes, including hundreds of motorbikes and a single Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED).
The video, narrated in Arabic, depicts the militants’ movements and attempts to portray the operation as a victory under their so-called “Borno Province.” In the video, ISWAP highlighted two SVBIED drivers, labeling them as martyrs and glorifying their actions.
However, the Nigerian military has strongly refuted these claims, emphasizing that the attack was repelled by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK). several insurgents were neutralized during the operation, and their logistics were significantly degraded.
The video release aligns with ISWAP’s strategy of using propaganda to project strength, even in the face of defeat.
Zagazola observed that after failed offensives, the group often disperses its fighters into smaller groups, retreating to camps for regrouping and reinforcements.
Military intelligence has warned that these dispersed militants may redirect their focus on softer targets, such as patrol teams, isolated villages, farmers, fishermen, and commuters, to compensate for their losses.
