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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, neutralising more than 50 terrorists, including senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), during a series of coordinated operations across Borno State.
According to an operational report released on Wednesday, the success was largely achieved through a precision air strike conducted around Kirta and Arina Ciki, where several high-profile terrorist leaders were killed. Among those reportedly eliminated was Khalifa Umar, a member of the ISWAP Shura Council, regarded as one of the group's key decision-making bodies.
Military authorities said the sustained aerial bombardment has significantly weakened terrorist strongholds, forcing insurgents to abandon their island hideouts and relocate towards the mainland in a bid to evade relentless military pressure.
The report further disclosed that troops arrested three suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers and informants in separate operations within Maiduguri and neighbouring communities. Security forces also apprehended a deserter soldier who allegedly absconded with his service weapon and was later linked to criminal activities.
Items recovered during the operations included a rifle with magazines, a vehicle, 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and other materials believed to have been used in supporting terrorist activities.
In the Kukawa axis, troops conducting fighting patrols reportedly engaged fleeing terrorist scouts, recovering ammunition and disrupting attempts by insurgents to regroup.
The North-East remains the focal point of Nigeria's long-running war against terrorism under Operation Hadin Kai. Over the years, the military has intensified coordinated air and ground offensives targeting ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclaves across the Lake Chad Basin and the Sambisa Forest corridor.
Recent operations have increasingly relied on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets combined with precision air strikes to dismantle terrorist command structures, destroy logistics networks and restrict movement along strategic routes.
Military authorities noted that the evolving operational strategy has compelled insurgents to disperse into smaller cells, making them more vulnerable to continuous tracking and targeted attacks.
The latest offensive, they said, underscores ongoing efforts to eliminate key leadership figures, disrupt supply chains and deny terrorists freedom of movement across Borno and adjoining border areas.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups until their operational capabilities are significantly degraded and normalcy is fully restored to affected communities across the region.
