Nigerian troops kill terrorists airstrike in Borno as over 50 insurgents, including ISWAP commander, are eliminated in Operation Hadin Kai
The Nigerian troops have killed more than 50 terrorists, including a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander identified as Khalifa Umar, during coordinated airstrikes in the North-East under Operation Hadin Kai.
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The strikes, which targeted terrorist hideouts around Kirta and Arina Ciki in Borno State, were confirmed in an operational report released on Wednesday.
According to the report, the precision air offensive eliminated several insurgent commanders, including Umar, who was said to be a member of the group’s Shura Council.
The military noted that the sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist strongholds, forcing insurgents to abandon island enclaves and retreat towards mainland areas under pressure from advancing troops.
In separate operations across Maiduguri and surrounding communities, troops arrested three suspected ISWAP collaborators accused of serving as logistics suppliers and informants.
A deserter soldier, who allegedly absconded with his weapon and later engaged in criminal activities, was also apprehended during the coordinated raids.
Items recovered from the suspects include a rifle with magazines, a vehicle, 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, and other materials linked to terrorist logistics support.
The report further stated that troops conducted fighting patrols along the Kukawa axis, where fleeing terrorist scouts were engaged and ammunition was recovered.
Operation Hadin Kai, which remains the core counter-terrorism campaign in the North-East, continues to rely on combined intelligence, surveillance and precision airstrikes to dismantle terrorist networks across the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa axis.
Military authorities said the evolving strategy has disrupted terrorist command structures and supply routes, forcing insurgents into smaller, more vulnerable cells.
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They added that operations will be sustained to further degrade terrorist capabilities and restore stability across the region.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
