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Nigerian troops of the Joint Task Force (Northeast), Operation HADIN KAI, have neutralized more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including a top commander, in a precision airstrike in Borno state.
The operation, conducted by the air component of the joint task force on 10 October 2026, targeted a terrorist enclave in Badu village, south of Gudumbali, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. Project reports
The military said the attack followed credible intelligence indicating that a concentration of ISWAP fighters were preparing to launch coordinated attacks against troops operating in Sector 3 of Operation HADIN KAI.
The operation involved targeted aerial surveillance, identification of terrorist movements and subsequent engagement of an insurgent-occupied building.
Preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that more than 40 terrorists were killed in the attack, including a top ISWAP commander known as Qaid.
The military described the operation as part of sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their operational capabilities and prevent planned attacks against military formations and vulnerable communities in the northeast.
Intelligence reports planned attacks
According to the military, the airstrike was initiated after intelligence reports revealed the presence of a large concentration of ISWAP fighters in the Badu village enclave.
The terrorists were reportedly preparing to launch coordinated attacks against troops in the Sector 3 area of responsibility, prompting the army to deploy its air assets to investigate and attack the alleged hideout.
The air component subsequently conducted targeted aerial surveillance to monitor movements around the location, including suspected hideouts and logistics facilities associated with the insurgents.
After identifying the targets, the aircraft carried out a precision strike on a building occupied by terrorists.
The Army said preliminary information gathered through human intelligence, along with battle damage assessments, indicated the operation had caused substantial losses to the group.
More than 40 terrorists were reportedly neutralized, including a top commander whose position within the group was identified as that of a Qaid, a leadership designation used by insurgents.
The army said further assessments were underway to establish the true extent of damage caused by the operation.
Two vehicles and 20 motorcycles destroyed
In addition to the reported casualties, the airstrike also destroyed two vehicles and around 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations.
The destruction of vehicles and motorcycles is significant because mobile transportation provides rebel groups with the ability to move fighters, supplies and equipment between hideouts and operational locations.
Motorcycles, in particular, are often used by armed groups operating in remote and difficult-to-access terrain in the Lake Chad region, where limited road infrastructure and large expanses of rural terrain can complicate military operations.
The army said the destroyed assets were associated with the terrorist enclave and were part of the group’s operational assets.
Their destruction, along with the neutralization of over 40 fighters, was expected to disrupt the activities of the targeted cell.
However, the military said further assessments were needed to determine the full operational impact of the attack.
ISWAP Murabitun unit targeted
Further intelligence information reportedly indicated that the terrorists belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, described by the military as a specialized mobile combat unit involved in patrols, coordinating attacks and supporting the group’s activities in the area.
The reported unit identification provides further context to the significance of the operation, given the role attributed to mobile combat formations in maintaining rebel presence and supporting attacks against security forces.
The army said the destruction of the enclave and associated logistical assets represented a setback to ISWAP’s ability to organize and execute attacks in the Lake Chad region.
The region, which spans parts of Nigeria and neighboring countries, remained a major theater of counterinsurgency operations against ISWAP and other armed groups.
Security forces continued to conduct air and ground operations aimed at disrupting rebel movements, destroying operational infrastructure, and limiting the groups’ ability to threaten military positions and civilian settlements.
The military did not immediately provide further details on the identity of the allegedly killed commander, nor did it reveal the full extent of the damage inflicted on the Murabitun element.
Operation HADIN KAI continues the offensive
The latest operation is part of the continued military campaign under Operation HADIN KAI, the joint task force responsible for counterinsurgency operations in northeast Nigeria.
The campaign involved coordinated air and ground operations against rebel hideouts, logistics networks and concentrations of fighters in Borno and other conflict-affected parts of the region.
The army said the latest attack demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led operations and the use of technology to identify and strike terrorist targets.
The military says the integration of intelligence collection, aerial surveillance and precision airpower remains central to efforts to weaken rebel networks and prevent attacks on troops.
He added that the joint task force remains committed to supporting air and ground offensives against terrorist groups operating in the northeast.
The military also reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and supporting efforts to restore security in insurgency-affected areas.
The military evaluation continues
Although preliminary findings indicated that more than 40 terrorists, including a top ISWAP commander, were neutralized, the military said evaluation of the operation was still ongoing.
The final assessment is expected to provide a clearer picture of the damage inflicted on the targeted enclave, the equipment destroyed, and the effect of the attack on the group’s operational capability.
The military maintained that operations would continue against terrorist elements threatening troops and communities across the region.
The October 10 strike in the village of Badu represents another operation in the ongoing campaign to disrupt ISWAP’s activities and reduce its ability to launch attacks in the Lake Chad region.
