Airstrike Kills Over 40 ISWAP Terrorists, Destroys Vehicles in Borno
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has neutralised more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a prominent commander, in a precision airstrike on a terrorist enclave at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The operation was conducted on October 10, 2026, following intelligence reports indicating that ISWAP fighters were assembling to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3 of the Joint Task Force’s area of responsibility.
According to a statement issued on October 12 by Captain Mohammed Goni, Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, the operation began with targeted aerial surveillance that identified terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities.
The Air Component subsequently carried out a precision strike on a building occupied by the terrorists.
Preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 fighters, including a prominent ISWAP commander known as a Qaid, were neutralised during the operation.
The strike also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles reportedly used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations.
Further intelligence indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, described as a specialised mobile unit responsible for patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities in the area.
The destruction of the enclave and its associated operational assets is expected to disrupt the group’s activities and weaken its capacity to launch attacks in the Lake Chad region. Further assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage.
The military said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led and technology-enabled air operations in disrupting terrorist networks and denying them freedom of action.
It added that troops under Operation HADIN KAI would sustain coordinated air and ground operations to neutralise terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and support efforts to restore lasting peace and stability across the North-East.
The statement was signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri.
Airstrike Kills Over 40 ISWAP Terrorists, Destroys Vehicles in Borno