By Amofokhai Williams
The Air Component of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has delivered a crushing blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), eliminating more than 40 fighters and destroying critical operational equipment in a precision air strike in Borno State, military authorities have confirmed.
The strike took place on 10 October 2026, targeting a terrorist enclave at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area.
Mohammed Goni, Captain and Military Information Officer at Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, announced the development in an official statement issued on Monday.
Goni said the operation was launched following credible intelligence indicating that a large gathering of ISWAP fighters was preparing to carry out coordinated attacks against troops deployed in Sector 3 areas of responsibility.
A
cting swiftly on the intelligence, he stated, the Air Component carried out detailed aerial surveillance, pinpointed terrorist movements around their hideouts and logistics facilities, and then executed a precision strike on a building occupied by the group.
“Preliminary Human Intelligence and Battle Damage Assessment indicates that over 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP Qaid (commander), were neutralised in the strike,” Goni revealed.
He added that two vehicles and about 20 motorcycles, which the terrorists used for mobility, logistics and offensive operations, were also destroyed in the attack.
The destruction of these assets, he noted, significantly degrades the group’s fighting capacity and disrupts planned assaults on military positions and nearby communities.
Goni further disclosed that the targeted fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile unit responsible for patrols, attack coordination and sustaining terrorist activities across the region.
He emphasised that the destruction of the enclave and its associated assets represents a major setback to the group’s ability to carry out attacks and maintain operations throughout the Lake Chad area.
“A full assessment to determine the complete scope of the damage is still ongoing,” he said.
“The successful operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led, technology-enabled and coordinated air operations in dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting hostile activities and denying criminal elements freedom of action,” Goni added.
He noted that the outcome also demonstrates the unwavering operational momentum of troops serving under Operation HADIN KAI in weakening terrorist capabilities and bolstering security across the North East.
Goni reaffirmed that the Joint Task Force remains fully resolved to maintain relentless, synchronised air and ground operations to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities, and consolidate progress toward durable peace and stability in the region.
