Air Strikes Reportedly Kill 40 ISWAP Fighters in Borno

Military airstrikes under Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly killed 40 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during a coordinated operation in Borno State.

The strikes were carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, November 10, around Wulgo–Momaduru in Ngala Local Government Area, following intelligence surveillance that reportedly identified a large gathering of suspected fighters.

Security sources said the gathering was detected approximately 1.5 kilometres north-west of Wulgo–Momaduru, prompting the military to launch precision air operations against the suspected terrorist positions.

An initial strike reportedly killed about 30 fighters and destroyed a motorcycle. Multiple secondary explosions were also observed afterwards, suggesting that explosive materials or other combustible items might have been destroyed.

As the operation continued, surveillance reportedly tracked surviving fighters fleeing the area and taking cover beneath nearby trees.

The military subsequently identified another concentration of the fleeing fighters and launched a second strike after obtaining the necessary authorisation.

A post-operation assessment reportedly indicated that an additional 10 fighters were killed, bringing the total number of casualties to 40.

The operation is considered a setback for ISWAP activities along the Wulgo–Momaduru axis, an area of strategic importance to military operations in the Lake Chad region.

The reported strikes highlight the role of intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and precision targeting in disrupting the movements and activities of armed groups in the North-East.