Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have recorded a major operational breakthrough following a series of coordinated precision air strikes that dismantled a key logistics network of the Islamic State West Africa Province operating along the Lake Chad waterways in Northern Borno State.
The strikes, carried out during the night of April 21 into the early hours of April 22, 2026, were described by military authorities as devastating and strategically significant, targeting terrorist movement corridors and resupply routes around the Kaniram Island axis.
According to military sources, the operation was launched after credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance inputs revealed a high concentration of terrorist activity in the area. Air assets deployed under Operation HADIN KAI maintained sustained aerial surveillance over the waterways, allowing for real-time monitoring and confirmation of enemy presence.
The intelligence reportedly identified over 30 boats being used by ISWAP elements for coordinated movement and logistics operations, indicating a well-structured network supporting the groupโs operational capacity across the Lake Chad region. Military authorities stated that the target validation process was carried out with precision, ensuring accurate identification and compliance with established Rules of Engagement before any strike was executed.
Following confirmation, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI launched a series of precision strikes that destroyed several of the identified boats and significantly disrupted the logistics hub used by the terrorists. The immediate impact of the strikes, according to the military, was a severe degradation of the groupโs mobility and its ability to sustain operations within the theatre.
Real-time intelligence gathered during the operation enabled the execution of follow-on strikes targeting fleeing and regrouping terrorist elements who attempted to escape into nearby vegetation. These subsequent engagements resulted in the neutralisation of more than 30 terrorists, with surviving members observed fleeing in disarray, an indication of a breakdown in their operational coordination and command structure.
In a related operation within the Sambisa Forest axis, specifically around the Sowolwolo area, additional precision-guided strikes were conducted after further target acquisition in collaboration with operational partners. The strikes reportedly destroyed three terrorist gun trucks and neutralised several fighters within the vicinity, further weakening the operational capabilities of insurgent elements in the area.
Battle Damage Assessment conducted after the operations, supported by post-strike intelligence, confirmed extensive losses on the part of the ัะตััะพัะธัั group. Military sources disclosed that there was evidence of mass burial activities carried out by ISWAP elements, particularly around the Mallam Fatori axis, underscoring the scale of casualties inflicted during the strikes.
Ground forces have since moved to exploit the effects of the air operations, advancing into adjoining areas to consolidate gains and prevent any attempt by fleeing ัะตััะพัะธัั elements to regroup or re-establish operational bases. The military noted that this coordinated airโland integration remains a key component of ongoing efforts to dominate the battlespace and deny insurgents freedom of movement.
The latest offensive forms part of sustained pressure being mounted by Operation HADIN KAI against ัะตััะพัะธัั networks across the North-East, with the aim of dismantling their infrastructure, disrupting supply chains, and ultimately degrading their capacity to launch attacks against both military formations and civilian populations.
The Military High Command commended the troops for what it described as an impressive battle performance, urging them to maintain momentum and continue aggressive operations to ensure complete dominance of the operational environment.
Reaffirming its commitment, Operation HADIN KAI stated that it would sustain relentless pressure on all ัะตััะพัะธัั elements until they are decisively defeated, stressing that the ongoing operations demonstrate both improved intelligence capabilities and enhanced operational coordination within the theatre.
The statement detailing the operation was issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, and dated April 22, 2026.
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