OPHK Reports 103 Terrorists Killed in Eight-Day Air Campaign Across North-East
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
The Nigerian military says sustained air operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai have resulted in the reported neutralisation of 103 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and the destruction of several terrorist logistics facilities across the North-East between October 10 and 18, 2026.
The operations, conducted through coordinated efforts involving Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (NARPAS) Regiment and the Air Component, targeted terrorist positions, gathering points and logistics assets in Borno and Adamawa states.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Captain Mohammed Goni, the military conducted seven precision air strikes during the eight days as part of efforts to weaken insurgents’ operational capabilities and disrupt their supply networks.
The statement identified the locations targeted as Gudumbali and Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area, Badu in Monguno Local Government Area, and an area east of Badu in Borno State. Another strike hit Duste Uku in Gombi Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
One of the major operations took place on October 18, when the Air Component struck an alternative residence reportedly used by Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno Local Government Area.
Goni said intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities had helped identify the target before the strike.
He added that subsequent human intelligence reports confirmed the deaths of Jindullah, described as a prominent ISWAP fighter and chief security guard to Abu Saleem, and Abul Kissa, identified as a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other fighters at the location.
The military said the strike destroyed the targeted structure and logistics assets found there, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles believed to support the group’s operations.
It added that the operation had disrupted the insurgents’ use of the location as a hideout and logistics point within the forested area.
In another operation on October 13, an aerial surveillance asset reportedly tracked 16 suspected terrorists moving from the Mairari axis towards a gathering of more than 100 fighters approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
According to the statement, a subsequent precision strike on the gathering resulted in the assessed neutralisation of about 30 terrorists. However, the extent of damage to the motorcycles observed at the scene could not be immediately established.
The other air strikes focused on suspected terrorist positions and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
The military said the combined operations had put additional pressure on insurgent networks, particularly their leadership structures, logistics systems and ability to move personnel and supplies across the operational theatre.
It attributed the reported successes to improved intelligence gathering and coordination among the various military air assets and ground forces operating under Operation Hadin Kai.
The task force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against insurgent groups, disrupting their activities and preventing them from establishing safe havens across the North-East.
