The air component of the Joint Task Force, North East, under Operation Hadin Kai, has reportedly killed more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a prominent commander, in an airstrike on a suspected terrorist enclave in Borno State.
Key Highlights
- The military says over 40 ISWAP fighters were killed in an airstrike at Badu Village, Borno State.
- The operation was conducted on October 10, 2026, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area.
- A prominent ISWAP commander, identified by the military as a Qaid, was reportedly among those killed.
- Two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles were reportedly destroyed.
- The military says the strike disrupted planned attacks on troops and nearby communities.
- Further assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage.
Operation Hadin Kai Targets ISWAP Enclave In Borno
The military said the precision airstrike was carried out on October 10, 2026, at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to the military, the operation followed intelligence reports indicating that ISWAP fighters were assembling to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3 of the operation’s area of responsibility.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said the air component responded by conducting aerial surveillance around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities.
The surveillance reportedly helped the military identify a building occupied by the fighters, which was subsequently targeted in a precision airstrike.
Over 40 ISWAP Fighters, Commander Reportedly Killed
Preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 fighters were killed in the operation, according to the military.
The statement said a prominent ISWAP commander, identified as a Qaid, was among those reportedly killed.
The military also reported the destruction of two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the fighters for transportation, logistics and offensive operations.
It said the destruction of the equipment had weakened the group’s operational capacity and disrupted its planned attacks on military positions and nearby communities.
Military Identifies ISWAP’s Murabitun Unit
Further intelligence indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, which the military described as a specialised mobile fighting unit.
According to the statement, the unit is responsible for patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities in the area.
The military said the destruction of the enclave and its associated operational assets represented a setback to ISWAP’s ability to launch attacks and maintain its activities in the Lake Chad region.
It added that further assessments were ongoing to establish the full extent of the damage inflicted during the operation.
Read also:
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Operation Hadin Kai Sustains Counterterrorism Offensive
The military attributed the reported success of the mission to intelligence-led and technology-enabled air operations coordinated with broader efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restrict their freedom of movement.
It said the operation demonstrated the continued operational momentum of troops under Operation Hadin Kai in efforts to weaken terrorist groups and improve security across Nigeria’s North-East.
The Joint Task Force reiterated its commitment to sustained and coordinated air and ground operations aimed at eliminating terrorist threats, protecting vulnerable communities and restoring lasting peace and stability in the region.
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