The military has carried out precise air strikes against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-east. They killed 103 fighters and destroyed several storage facilities between 10 and 18 October.
The Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Mohammed Goni, shared this news in a statement on Monday in Maiduguri.
Mr Goni said the operations involved coordinated air support from the Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regiment (NARPARS) and the Air Component.
He explained that the campaign included seven strikes aimed at terrorist locations around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA), Badu and Mairari in Monguno LGA, Duste Uku in Gombi LGA of Adamawa, and the Arina Woje area of Monguno LGA, Borno.
A major win happened on Sunday. The air component carried out a precision strike on the alternate home of Abu Saleem, the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad. This followed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance work.
Mr Goni said that later intelligence confirmed the death of Jindullah, a well-known ISWAP fighter who was Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council.
He added that other important fighters were also killed during the strike.
The targeted building was fully destroyed, along with key logistics items like nine boat engines and several motorcycles kept there.
He mentioned that destroying this facility has hurt the group’s ability to use it as a safe place and logistics base in the forested area.
An earlier operation on 13 October involved a Guardian air asset tracking a group of 16 terrorists from the Mairari area to a gathering of over 100 fighters, along with many motorcycles.
According to him, this gathering was about 23 kilometers east of Badu and 19 kilometers west of Monguno.
A follow-up precision strike on this gathering is believed to have killed around 30 terrorists, although the damage to the motorcycles is not confirmed yet.
Mr Goni said other strikes during this period targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
He stated that the operations show ongoing military pressure on terrorist groups, their leaders and logistics networks in the area.
He added that the combined use of air support and ground forces is key to weakening terrorist capabilities, disrupting command structures and limiting insurgents' movements.
The military is determined to keep up the operational momentum and work towards lasting peace and security in the North-East.
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