The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under Operation HADIN KAI, has neutralised more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a prominent commander, in a precision air strike on a terrorist enclave in Borno State.
The strike, conducted on October 10, 2026, targeted the terrorists’ hideout at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of the state.
A statement by the Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said on Monday that the operation followed credible intelligence indicating that ISWAP fighters were preparing coordinated attacks against troops operating within Sector 3.
According to the statement, the Air Component conducted aerial surveillance to track the terrorists’ movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before striking a building occupied by the fighters.
Preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that more than 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP commander, were killed in the operation.
The strike also destroyed two vehicles and about 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations, significantly weakening their operational capabilities.
Further intelligence revealed that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile unit responsible for patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities in the area.
The destruction of the enclave and its associated assets is expected to disrupt the group’s planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities, while undermining its capacity to sustain operations in the Lake Chad region.
The statement noted that further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted.
It added that the successful operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led and technology-enabled air operations in dismantling terrorist networks and restricting their freedom of action.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustained, coordinated air and ground operations to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and restore lasting peace and stability in the North-East.
Leave a Reply