Over 40 ISWAP Terrorists Killed in Fresh Borno Air Strikes — Military

The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai says more than 40 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a senior commander, were killed in a precision air strike on a terrorist enclave in Borno State.

The operation targeted a building occupied by insurgents in Badu village, south of Gufumbali, in the Guzamala area of the state, according to the military

In a statement issued on Monday, Mohammed Goni, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, said the strike was conducted on Saturday, October 10, following intelligence reports that ISWAP fighters were assembling to launch coordinated attacks against military personnel operating in Sector 3.

Goni explained that the air component conducted targeted aerial surveillance after receiving the intelligence, identifying insurgent movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before launching the strike.

According to the military, preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 insurgents were killed, including a prominent ISWAP commander referred to as a Qaid.

The operation also reportedly destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the fighters for transportation, logistics and offensive operations.

The military said the strike disrupted the insurgents’ planned attacks on security positions and surrounding communities, while damaging their capacity to move personnel and supplies across the area.

Goni further disclosed that intelligence gathered after the operation linked the targeted fighters to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, described as a specialised mobile fighting unit involved in patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining insurgent activities in the region.

He said the destruction of the enclave and associated operational assets represented a setback to the group’s operational capabilities in the Lake Chad region.

The military added that further assessments were ongoing to establish the full extent of the damage caused by the operation.

Borno State remains a major focus of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign, with ISWAP and Boko Haram continuing to pose security challenges across parts of the North-East.

Operation Hadin Kai has sustained air and ground operations aimed at disrupting insurgent movements, dismantling operational bases and preventing attacks on military positions and civilian communities.

The military reiterated its commitment to intelligence-led operations and coordinated air-ground engagements as efforts continue to restore security across the region.