By Charles Suru
The military says it has killed 103 terrorists and destroyed several logistics hubs and storage facilities in seven precision air strikes against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters across the North-East between October 10 and 18, 2026.
Key Highlights
- Operation Hadin Kai says 103 ISWAP terrorists were killed in seven air strikes between October 10 and 18.
- Strikes hit Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku in Borno and Adamawa states.
- An October 18 strike hit the alternative residence of ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, Abu Saleem.
- Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, Jindullah, and Shura Council member Abul Kissa were reportedly killed.
- About 30 terrorists were neutralised in an October 13 strike on a gathering near Monguno.
The operations were conducted by the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), through coordinated efforts involving the army aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (NARPAS) Regiment and the air component.
Acting Military Information Officer at OPHK Headquarters, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Monday.
He said the strikes targeted terrorist positions and facilities around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area, Badu in Monguno Local Government Area, Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area and Duste Uku in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Strike On ISWAP Wali’s Hideout
According to him, another major strike was carried out on October 18 against the alternative residence of Abu Saleem, identified as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno Local Government Area in Borno State.
Goni said intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities conducted before the operation enabled the military to identify the target and launch a precision strike.
He added that subsequent human intelligence confirmed the deaths of Jindullah, a prominent ISWAP fighter reportedly serving as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other fighters at the location.
The statement said the strike destroyed the targeted structure and logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles stored within the premises.
It added that the operation disrupted the group’s concealment arrangements in the forested area, further weakening its ability to use the location as a safe haven.
Read also:
- Operation Hadin Kai Airstrike Kills Over 40 ISWAP Fighters In Borno
- Army Chief Urges Troops To Sustain Offensive Against Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists In North East
- Troops Kill 25 ISWAP Terrorists, Repel Attack, Recover Weapons in Borno
30 Neutralised In Monguno Gathering
The military also reported a major success on October 13, when a Guardian air asset tracked 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 fighters accompanied by several motorcycles.
The gathering was reportedly located about 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
Goni said a subsequent precision strike on the gathering resulted in the assessed neutralisation of approximately 30 terrorists, although the extent of damage to the motorcycles could not be immediately confirmed.
Other strikes conducted during the eight-day period targeted terrorist elements and facilities in Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
The military said the combined operations disrupted terrorist logistics networks, weakened their operational capabilities and reduced their capacity to sustain attacks across the region.
It attributed the successes to improved coordination among Nigerian Army Aviation, NARPAS, the Air Component and ground forces.
Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations, denying terrorists safe havens and dismantling their networks as part of efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.
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