The Air Component of the Joint Task Force, 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 Badu Village, south of Gudumbali, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military said the intelligence-led operation, conducted on October 10, 2026, also destroyed two vehicles and about 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the strike followed credible intelligence indicating that ISWAP fighters were assembling to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3’s area of responsibility.
According to the statement, the Air Component swiftly acted on the intelligence, deploying aerial surveillance to track terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before launching a precision strike on a building occupied by the insurgents.
Preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that more than 40 fighters, including a prominent ISWAP Qaid (commander), were killed in the operation.
The military explained that the destruction of the vehicles and motorcycles had significantly weakened the terrorists’ operational mobility and logistics capacity, while disrupting their alleged plans to attack military positions and surrounding communities.
Further intelligence revealed that the targeted fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile fighting unit responsible for conducting patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist operations in the area.
The military described the destruction of the enclave and its associated operational assets as a significant setback to the group’s ability to launch attacks and maintain its activities across the Lake Chad region.
It, however, noted that further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted during the air strike.
The statement said the successful operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-driven, technology-enabled and coordinated air operations in disrupting terrorist networks and restricting their freedom of movement.
It added that the operation reflected the sustained momentum of troops under Operation Hadin Kai in degrading insurgent capabilities and strengthening security across Nigeria’s North-East.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustained and coordinated air and ground offensives to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and consolidate ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.
