- Military strikes hit terrorist hideouts in Borno, Adamawa, eliminate key ISWAP figures
The Nigerian military has announced the neutralisation of 103 terrorists and the destruction of several logistics hubs and storage facilities belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following an eight-day intelligence-led air campaign across the North-East.
The operations, conducted by the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), between October 10 and 18, 2026, involved coordinated precision strikes by Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (NARPAS) Regiment and the Air Component.
The military said the sustained offensive targeted terrorist concentrations, leadership structures, logistics networks and hideouts in parts of Borno and Adamawa states, as part of efforts to dismantle insurgent networks and restrict their freedom of movement.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said seven air strikes were conducted during the period against identified terrorist targets around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA), Badu in Monguno LGA, Mairari in Guzamala LGA, an area east of Badu, and Duste Uku in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State.
A major breakthrough was recorded on October 18 when the Air Component launched a precision strike on an alternate residence of Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno LGA, Borno State.
According to the statement, the strike followed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities, while subsequent human intelligence reports confirmed the neutralisation of Jindullah, a prominent ISWAP fighter reportedly serving as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard.
The military also reported the death of Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other prominent fighters who were inside the targeted premises.
The strike reportedly destroyed the structure and key logistics assets stored there, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles.
The military said the operation also disrupted the insurgents’ concealment arrangements within the forested area, weakening their ability to use the location as a safe haven for planning and sustaining attacks.
In another significant operation on October 13, a Guardian air asset tracked a group of 16 terrorists moving from the Mairari axis towards a gathering of more than 100 suspected insurgents accompanied by several motorcycles.
The gathering was located approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
A subsequent precision strike on the concentration was assessed to have neutralised about 30 terrorists. However, the extent of damage to the motorcycles at the scene could not be immediately established.
Other strikes conducted during the operational period targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku, contributing to the overall reported casualty figure of 103 terrorists.
The military said the coordinated operations had significantly disrupted ISWAP’s operational capabilities, particularly its logistics infrastructure and capacity to sustain prolonged activities across the theatre.
It attributed the reported successes to improved intelligence gathering, precision targeting and operational synergy among Nigerian Army Aviation, NARPAS, the Air Component and ground forces.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups, denying them safe havens and dismantling the networks supporting their operations.
The military said the continued offensive formed part of broader efforts to restore lasting peace and security across Nigeria’s North-East, where insurgent violence has persisted for years.
