Thursday, November 12, 2026

103 ISWAP terrorists killed in air strikes in North-East: Military

Mohammed Goni, the acting spokesman for Hadin Kai operation in the North-East, said the operation lasted 18 days.

• October 20, 2026

Troops of Hadin Kai say they have killed 103 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in seven air strikes conducted across parts of Borno and Adamawa states while destroying several terrorist logistics hubs and storage facilities.

In a statement on Monday, Mohammed Goni, the acting spokesman for the operation in the North-East, said the operation lasted 18 days.

He said the air strikes were carried out through the coordinated use of Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft (NARPAS) Regiment, and Air Component assets.

“The sustained air campaign comprised seven strikes against terrorist targets around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) on 10 October, Badu in Monguno LGA on 11 October, Mairari in Guzamala LGA and an area east of Badu on 13 October, and Duste Uku in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State on 16 October. The alternate residence of Abu Saleem, the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno LGA, Borno State, on 18 October 2026,”  Mr Goni said.

According to him, on Sunday a precision strike was conducted against Abu Saleem’s alternate residence following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities. He noted that subsequent human intelligence confirmed the neutralisation of Jindullah, a prominent ISWAP fighter reportedly serving as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard.

“The intelligence also confirmed the neutralisation of Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other prominent fighters within the targeted premises. The strike completely destroyed the targeted structure and key logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles stored within the premises,” Mr Goni said.

The statement said it also disrupted terrorist concealment arrangements in the forested area, further undermining the group’s ability to use the location as a haven for its activities.

He explained that on Tuesday, the Guardian air asset tracked a group of 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 terrorists accompanied by several motorcycles, approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno LGA.

“A subsequent precision strike on the gathering resulted in the assessed neutralisation of approximately 30 terrorists, while the extent of damage to the motorcycles remained unconfirmed,” he said.

He added that other strikes during the period targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.

“The seven strikes resulted in the reported neutralisation of 103 terrorists and the destruction of several logistics hubs and storage facilities, significantly disrupting the group’s operational capabilities and capacity to sustain its activities,” Mr Goni stated.

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