By Stella Odueme
The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), says it has neutralised 103 terrorists and destroyed several logistics hubs and storage facilities during an eight-day intelligence-led air campaign across the North-East.
The operation, conducted between October 10 and 18, 2026, targeted Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in parts of Borno and Adamawa states.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
Goni said the successes were recorded through coordinated operations involving Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft (NARPAS) Regiment and Air Component assets.
He said seven precision air strikes were conducted around Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA), Badu in Monguno LGA, Mairari in Guzamala LGA, an area east of Badu, Duste Uku in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State, and the alternate residence of Abu Saleem, ISWAP's Wali of South Lake Chad.
According to him, a major success was recorded on October 18 when the Air Component struck Abu Saleem's alternate residence in the Arina Woje area of Monguno LGA, following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities.
He said subsequent human intelligence confirmed the neutralisation of Jindullah, a prominent ISWAP fighter reportedly serving as Abu Saleem's chief security guard.
The intelligence also confirmed the neutralisation of Abul Kissa, a member of the group's Shura Council, alongside other prominent fighters at the location.
Goni said the strike destroyed the targeted structure and key logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles stored within the premises.
He added that the operation disrupted the terrorists' concealment arrangements in the forested area, undermining their ability to use the location as a safe haven.
The military also recorded significant gains on October 13 when a Guardian air asset tracked 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 terrorists accompanied by several motorcycles.
The gathering was located approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno LGA.
According to the statement, a subsequent precision strike on the gathering resulted in the assessed neutralisation of about 30 terrorists, although the extent of damage to the motorcycles could not be confirmed.
The other strikes targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
Goni said the coordinated operations had placed sustained pressure on terrorist concentrations, leadership structures and logistics networks, significantly disrupting their operational capabilities.
He reaffirmed OPHK's commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations through continued collaboration among Nigerian Army Aviation, NARPAS, the Air Component and ground forces.
The task force, he said, remained determined to deny terrorists safe havens, dismantle their networks and advance efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.