Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigerian troops have killed more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a prominent commander, in an airstrike on a terrorist enclave in Borno State, according to the military.
The operation was conducted on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Badu village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, following intelligence reports that the fighters were preparing coordinated attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.
The military disclosed the development on Monday, October 12, in a statement issued by Captain Mohammed Goni, the acting Military Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out by the air component of the joint task force after intelligence indicated a concentration of ISWAP fighters within the area of responsibility of Sector 3.
The military said the air component conducted aerial surveillance, identified movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities, and subsequently launched a precision strike on a building occupied by the fighters.
Preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 fighters, including a prominent ISWAP commander known as a Qaid, were killed during the operation.
The military also reported the destruction of two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the group for movement, logistics and offensive operations.
Captain Goni said further intelligence indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, described by the military as a specialised mobile unit involved in patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining the group’s activities in the area.
The military said the destruction of the enclave and associated operational assets had disrupted the planned attacks and weakened the group’s capacity to operate in the Lake Chad region.
However, the casualty figure remains a preliminary military assessment. The statement did not provide independently verified casualty figures, and the military said further assessment was ongoing to establish the full extent of the damage.
The operation comes amid renewed military efforts to contain insurgent activities in Nigeria’s North-East, where ISWAP and Boko Haram have waged a prolonged insurgency that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions across the Lake Chad region.
ISWAP, an Islamic State-linked faction that emerged from the Boko Haram insurgency, has repeatedly targeted Nigerian military formations, particularly in remote parts of Borno State. Its attacks have included coordinated assaults on military bases and attempts to seize weapons and equipment.
In a separate incident earlier in October, ISWAP fighters attacked troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion in Kukawa Local Government Area. The military said troops, supported by air assets, repelled the assault and killed more than 25 attackers. It also acknowledged that some soldiers died during the encounter, although the military’s initial statement did not specify the number.
The attacks underscore the continuing security challenges facing troops operating in remote communities and areas around Lake Chad, where armed groups exploit difficult terrain and mobility to sustain their operations.
Operation Hadin Kai has continued to combine ground operations, intelligence gathering and air support in efforts to disrupt insurgent networks and protect vulnerable communities.
In Monday’s statement, the joint task force reaffirmed its commitment to sustained, coordinated operations against terrorist groups in the North-East. It said the objective remained to eliminate threats, protect civilians and support efforts to restore peace and stability.
The military did not announce any additional arrests or provide details about whether other fighters escaped the Badu village strike. It also did not report civilian casualties in connection with the operation.
Further information may emerge as the military completes its assessment of the strike and its impact on the group’s operational capacity.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments