By Nkechi Eze
Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have neutralised several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, including high-profile Shura Council member Abu Hajara, prominent commander Abul Walid and two high-ranking Arab fighters during a fierce encounter in Kukawa, Borno State.
The operation, which took place on October 31, 2026, dealt a significant blow to the leadership structure and operational capacity of the terrorist group following an attempted attack on military positions in the area.
According to an official statement signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, the terrorists launched a massive assault on troops’ locations in Kukawa but were successfully repelled through coordinated ground and air operations.
The statement identified Abul Walid as a prominent ISWAP commander and close associate of Ba Shuwa, the group’s overall Wali, while Abu Hajara was described as a high-profile member of its Shura Council.
Troops deployed superior firepower, supported by air assets of the Nigerian military, to defeat the attackers and inflict significant casualties on the terrorist fighters.
Following the successful engagement, troops recovered several arms, ammunition and communication devices believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.
The Kukawa operation comes barely three days after another major military offensive in Buni Yadi, where troops reportedly neutralised 55 terrorists, including prominent commanders Ali Mandara Abba Gajiri, also known as Munzir, Habu Ikkima Nakif Yana Faruk and Commander Gogore.
The successive engagements underscore the military’s sustained offensive against ISWAP and other terrorist groups operating across the North-East, with particular focus on dismantling their leadership structures and disrupting their operational networks.
The Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and sustaining operations aimed at eliminating terrorist elements and destroying their camps across the region.
It assured that troops would maintain the pressure on insurgent groups until their operational capabilities are dismantled and lasting security restored across the theatre.
