By Esther Oseyiomon
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has killed more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior commander, in an air strike on a terrorist hideout in Badu Village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The strike, conducted on October 10, 2026, also destroyed two vehicles and about 20 motorcycles used by the insurgents for movement, logistics and attacks.
According to the Joint Task Force (North-East), the operation followed intelligence reports that ISWAP fighters were preparing coordinated attacks against troops in Sector 3’s area of responsibility.
The military said aerial surveillance was deployed to monitor suspected terrorist positions before a building occupied by the fighters was identified and targeted.
Preliminary intelligence and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 insurgents were killed, including a prominent ISWAP commander. Further assessments are ongoing to determine the full impact of the operation.
Post-strike intelligence identified the targeted fighters as members of ISWAP’s Murabitun unit, reportedly responsible for patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining the group’s activities in the area.
The task force said the operation was aimed at disrupting the group’s mobility and logistics, weakening its ability to launch attacks and preventing planned assaults on military positions.
It reaffirmed its commitment to sustained air and ground operations to dismantle terrorist networks, protect vulnerable communities and improve security across the North-East, particularly around the Lake Chad basin.