Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly killed more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, including a senior commander, in an air strike on the group’s hideout in Badu Village, south of Gudumbali, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Nigerian Army said the strike was carried out on October 10, 2026, as the insurgents prepared to launch coordinated attacks on military formations operating within Sector 3.
The acting Military Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Taskforce, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to him, the Air Component of the Joint Task Force carried out the operation, destroying two vehicles and about 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the fighters for transportation, logistics and offensive missions.
The statement read, “The Air Component of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI has dealt a devastating blow to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, neutralising over 40 fighters, including a prominent commander, in a precision air strike on a terrorist enclave at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala LGA, Borno State, on 10 October 2026.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Air Component conducted targeted aerial surveillance, identified terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities, and subsequently executed a precision strike on a building occupied by the terrorists.”
Goni said preliminary human intelligence reports and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 fighters, including a prominent ISWAP Qaid, or commander, were killed in the operation.
“The operation also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations, thereby significantly degrading their fighting capability and disrupting planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities,” he added.
Further intelligence reportedly indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, described as a specialised mobile unit responsible for patrols, attack coordination and sustaining the group’s activities in the area.
The Army said the destruction of the hideout and the associated operational assets would weaken the group’s capacity to stage attacks and maintain its operations in the Lake Chad region.
Goni assured that the Joint Task Force would continue coordinated air and ground offensives to counter terrorist threats, safeguard vulnerable communities and support efforts to restore lasting peace and stability across the region.
