The military has neutralised 103 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and destroyed several logistics hubs and storage facilities in a series of precision air strikes conducted across the North-East between October 10 and 18.
Capt. Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Maiduguri.
Goni said the operations involved coordinated air assets from Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regiment (NARPARS) and the Air Component.
According to him, the campaign comprised seven strikes targeting terrorist locations around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA), Badu and Mairari in Monguno LGA, Duste Uku in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State, and Arina Woje in Monguno LGA of Borno State.
He said one of the major successes was recorded on Sunday when the Air Component carried out a precision strike on the alternate residence of Abu Saleem, the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
Goni said subsequent human intelligence confirmed the neutralisation of Jindullah, a prominent ISWAP fighter reportedly serving as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council.
He added that other prominent fighters were also neutralised during the operation.
The military spokesperson said the targeted structure was completely destroyed alongside critical logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles stored within the premises.
According to him, the destruction of the facility had further weakened ISWAP’s capacity to use the location as a safe haven and logistics base within the forested area.
Goni also disclosed that an earlier operation on October 13 involved a Guardian air asset tracking a group of 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 fighters accompanied by several motorcycles.
He said the gathering was located approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
A subsequent precision strike on the assembly resulted in the assessed neutralisation of about 30 terrorists, although the extent of damage to the motorcycles could not be confirmed, he added.
Goni said other air strikes conducted during the period targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
He explained that the operations reflected sustained military pressure on terrorist concentrations, leadership structures and logistics networks across the theatre of operations.
He added that the coordinated deployment of air assets and ground forces remained central to efforts to degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt command structures and deny insurgents freedom of action.
The military, he said, remained committed to sustaining operational momentum and intensifying efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.
