Eight Days of Precision Air Campaign Kills 103 Terrorists in North-East

By Emameh Gabriel

The Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has neutralised 103 terrorists and destroyed several logistics hubs and storage facilities in a sustained intelligence-led air campaign across its joint operations area between October 10 and 18, 2026.

Acting Military Information Officer at Headquarters, Joint Task Force North-East, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement, saying the successes were recorded through the coordinated deployment of Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft (NARPAS) Regiment, and Air Component assets.

According to Goni, the operations reinforced the military’s resolve to dismantle terrorist networks and deny them freedom of action.

He stated that the sustained air campaign comprised seven strikes against terrorist targets around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) on October 10; Badu in Monguno LGA on October 11; Mairari in Guzamala LGA and an area east of Badu on October 13; Duste Uku in Gombi LGA, Adamawa State, on October 16; and the alternate residence of Abu Saleem, the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno LGA, Borno State, on October 18, 2026.

He said the operations reflected sustained operational pressure on terrorist concentrations, leadership structures, and logistics networks across the theatre.

The statement added that a significant success was recorded on October 18, 2026, when the Air Component conducted a precision strike against Abu Saleem’s alternate residence following intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities.

“Subsequent human intelligence (HUMINT) confirmed the neutralisation of Jindullah, a prominent ISWAP fighter reportedly serving as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard,” it added.

“The intelligence also confirmed the neutralisation of Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other prominent fighters within the targeted premises.”

In a related development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said preliminary post-strike assessments confirmed that the air interdiction eliminated several prominent ISWAP fighters, including individuals identified as key figures within the group’s security structure and leadership council.

In a statement, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said one of the ISWAP strategists eliminated was identified as “JINDULLAH,” reportedly the chief security guard and confidant of Abu Saleem, while another, identified as “ABUL KISSA,” was a member of ISWAP’s Shura Council.

Ejodame said the strike also destroyed logistical assets, including boat engines and motorcycles, believed to support the group’s movements and operational activities.

He stated that the operation, carried out on October 19, 2026, underscored the NAF’s sustained commitment to degrading terrorist networks, disrupting their logistics, and enhancing security across Nigeria’s North-East.

The NAF spokesperson said the operation demonstrated the service’s sustained efforts to conduct intelligence-led precision strikes against terrorist enclaves concealed in difficult terrain.

“By neutralising key operatives and destroying critical logistical resources, the strike delivers a significant setback to ISWAP’s operational capability, further constraining its ability to coordinate activities and threaten vulnerable communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening African-led defence partnerships to combat terrorism, violent extremism, and other transnational security threats undermining peace and stability across the continent.

Shaibu made this known during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), General Mubarakh Muganga, in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda.

The visit formed part of his ongoing official working visit aimed at deepening bilateral military cooperation and advancing collective security initiatives.

The COAS underscored the importance of modern military training, professional military education, and cadet exchange programmes in developing combat-ready, adaptable, and interoperable armed forces.

According to a statement by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the engagement highlighted the imperative for African nations to take greater responsibility for addressing shared security challenges through sustained military cooperation, intelligence-sharing, joint capacity development, and coordinated responses to emerging threats.

Shaibu emphasised the strategic importance of strengthening military-to-military relations, particularly in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, professional military education, and the exchange of operational experiences.

Earlier, the representative of the Commandant, Brigadier General Bukenya, said the country’s military academy had developed professional military leaders through rigorous training in military tactics, leadership, discipline, and physical fitness.

He added that its programmes equipped cadets with essential skills in peace support operations, operational planning, and logistics management.

Bukenya welcomed the proposed training partnership, reaffirming the academy’s commitment to strengthening military education and defence cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda.