Nigerian troops take down 50 terrorists, including ISWAP leader in Borno

Troops from Operation Hadin Kai have stepped up their efforts in the North-east. They have killed more than 50 terrorists, including a top ISWAP commander. They also arrested several collaborators in Borno.

This information comes from an operational report shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The military said they achieved this success after a precise airstrike around Kirta and Arina Ciki. This strike killed several terrorist commanders, including Khalifa Umar, a member of the ISWAP Shura Council.

The report explained that the ongoing air assaults have forced insurgents to leave their island hideouts and move to the mainland under pressure.

The report also mentioned that troops caught three suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers and informants. They also arrested a soldier who had deserted with his weapon and was later linked to criminal acts in separate operations around Maiduguri and nearby areas.

The items seized from the suspects include a rifle with magazines, a vehicle, 30 litres of petrol, and other materials used to support terrorist activities. "Troops also carried out fighting patrols in the Kukawa area, engaging fleeing terrorist scouts and recovering ammunition," the report added.

The North-east region remains the center of Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism under Operation Hadin Kai. Over the years, coordinated air and ground attacks have targeted ISWAP and JAS camps across the Lake Chad Basin and the Sambisa area.

Recent operations have increasingly combined intelligence, surveillance, and precise airstrikes. These actions aim to disrupt terrorist command structures, supply routes, and movement.

Military officials say this changing strategy has forced insurgents to leave their strongholds on islands and split into smaller groups. This makes them more vulnerable to continuous pursuit.

The latest operations show that there are ongoing efforts to weaken the leadership, cut off supply lines, and limit the terrorists' movement across the state and nearby border areas.

The military stated that operations would continue to further reduce the terrorists' capabilities and bring normalcy back to the region.