The Nigerian military says it has killed 103 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in seven air strikes across Borno and Adamawa states between October 10 and 18, 2026.
The operations, conducted by the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), also destroyed several terrorist logistics hubs, storage facilities and other assets, according to the military.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri on Monday, October 19, the Acting Military Information Officer of OPHK, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the operations involved Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regiment and Air Component assets.
The strikes targeted terrorist positions around Gudumbali and Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA), Badu in Monguno LGA, an area east of Badu in Borno State, and Duste Uku in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State.
One of the major operations took place on October 18, when an intelligence-led precision strike targeted an alternative residence of Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in Arina Woje, Monguno LGA, Borno State.
According to the military, subsequent human intelligence confirmed the deaths 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, alongside other fighters. The strike also destroyed the targeted structure and logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles stored at the premises.
Multiple Operations
The military said the operation disrupted ISWAP’s concealment arrangements in the forested area, weakening the group’s ability to use the location as a safe haven.
Earlier, on October 13, a Guardian air asset tracked 16 terrorists moving from the Mairari axis towards a gathering of more than 100 fighters accompanied by several motorcycles. The gathering was located about 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
A subsequent precision strike resulted in the assessed neutralisation of approximately 30 terrorists, although the extent of damage to the motorcycles could not be confirmed. The remaining operations targeted terrorist fighters and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
The military said the seven air strikes collectively resulted in the reported deaths of 103 terrorists and the destruction of logistics facilities, limiting ISWAP’s operational capacity and movement across the affected areas.
