By Nkechi Eze
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has neutralised more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including a prominent commander, in a precision air strike on a terrorist enclave in Badu Village, south of Gudumbali, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The operation, conducted on October 10, 2026, also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations, dealing a significant blow to the group’s operational capabilities.
According to an official statement signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, the strike followed credible intelligence indicating that ISWAP fighters were assembling to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3.
Acting on the intelligence, the Air Component conducted targeted aerial surveillance, identified terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities, and subsequently launched a precision strike on a building occupied by the insurgents.
The statement said preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that more than 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP Qaid, or commander, were neutralised during the operation.
It added that the destruction of the vehicles and motorcycles had significantly weakened the terrorists’ mobility and logistical capacity, while disrupting their planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.
Further intelligence indicated that the terrorists belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile fighting unit responsible for patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities in the area.
The statement described the destruction of the enclave and associated operational assets as a significant setback to the group’s capacity to launch attacks and sustain its activities in the Lake Chad region, noting that further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage.
It said the successful operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led, technology-enabled and coordinated air operations in dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting hostile activities and denying insurgents freedom of action.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining coordinated air and ground operations to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and consolidate efforts towards restoring lasting peace and stability across the North-East.
Operation HADIN KAI continues to conduct military operations against terrorist groups operating in the region as part of ongoing efforts to degrade their fighting capabilities and improve security.
