By Julian Osamoto
The Nigerian military says airstrikes targeting Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno and Adamawa states has killed 103 terrorists and destroyed several logistics facilities between October 10 and 18, 2026.
The operations were conducted by the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, through seven intelligence-led precision airstrikes targeting terrorist positions, gathering points and logistics networks.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri on Monday, the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, says Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (NARPAS) Regiment and Air Component assets participated in the operations.
According to the military, the strikes targeted areas around Gudumbali and Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area, Badu in Monguno Local Government Area, and Duste Uku in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The campaign also targeted the alternate residence of Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno on October 18.
The military explained that the intelligence gathered after the October 18 strike confirmed the killing of Jindullah, described as a prominent ISWAP fighter and Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, as well as Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council.
It adds that the strike destroyed the targeted building, nine boat engines and several motorcycles. The operation also disrupted terrorist concealment arrangements in the forested area, weakening the group’s ability to use the location as a safe haven.
Earlier, on October 13, a military surveillance asset tracked 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 fighters accompanied by several motorcycles, about 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
A subsequent precision strike on the gathering resulted in the assessed killing of about 30 terrorists. However, the military said the extent of damage to the motorcycles could not be confirmed.
The other strikes targeted terrorist positions and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku during the eight-day campaign. Collectively, the military said the operations killed 103 terrorists and destroyed several logistics hubs and storage facilities.
Operation HADIN KAI said the coordinated air campaign was intended to weaken terrorist command structures, disrupt supply networks and restrict fighters’ movements across the North-East.
