By Chimezie Godfrey
The military has neutralised 103 suspected terrorists in seven precision air strikes targeting Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) positions, leadership hideouts and logistics facilities across the North-East within eight days.
The operations, conducted between October 10 and 18, involved Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regiment and the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
He said the strikes targeted terrorist locations around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku in Borno and Adamawa states, disrupting the group’s leadership, operational movements and logistics networks.
Goni said one of the major successes was recorded on October 18 when a precision air strike targeted the alternative residence of Abu Saleem, identified as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno Local Government Area, Borno State.
According to him, subsequent human intelligence confirmed the deaths of Jindullah, reportedly the senior terrorist’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other fighters.
The strike also destroyed the targeted structure and logistics assets, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles.
He said the operation was aimed at weakening the terrorist leadership, dismantling its logistics network and preventing the location from serving as a safe haven for insurgents.
Another major operation was conducted on October 13, when an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset tracked 16 terrorists moving from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 fighters accompanied by several motorcycles.
Goni said the gathering was located approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
He said a subsequent precision air strike resulted in the assessed neutralisation of about 30 terrorists, although the extent of damage to the motorcycles could not be confirmed.
The military spokesperson said other air strikes during the period targeted terrorist elements and facilities around Gudumbali on October 10, Badu on October 11, Mairari and an area east of Badu on October 13, and Duste Uku in Adamawa State on October 16.
He explained that the seven operations collectively disrupted terrorist concentrations, command structures and logistics networks across the theatre.
Goni said Operation Hadin Kai would sustain intelligence-led operations and strengthen coordination between air and ground forces to deny terrorists safe havens and improve security across the North-East.
The military said the operations formed part of ongoing efforts to degrade ISWAP’s operational capabilities and restrict the movement of its fighters and supplies across the region.