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Troops have neutralised more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, including a prominent commander, in an air strike in Borno State, while another operation in Sokoto State left a suspected Lakurawa militant dead.
The Army said the Borno strike targeted an ISWAP enclave at Badu Village, in Guzamala Local Government Area, on October 10, as the terrorists prepared to launch coordinated attacks on military positions.
In Sokoto, troops killed the suspected Lakurawa militant during an operation in Soruro village, Tangaza Local Government Area, on Monday, following a distress call over the presence of armed men.
The developments come as the military intensifies its onslaught on terrorists across the country, especially in the North.
The acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Mohammed Goni, in a statement on Monday said the Borno operation was conducted by the Air Component of the Joint Task Force of the Northeast Operation Hadin Kai.
He said the operation led to the destruction of two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations.
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“The Air Component of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai has dealt a devastating blow to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, neutralising over 40 fighters, including a prominent commander, in a precision air strike on a terrorist enclave at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala LGA, Borno State, on 10 October 2026, the statement read.
The intelligence-driven operation, Goni said, followed credible reports of a concentration of ISWAP fighters preparing to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3 areas of responsibility.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Air Component conducted targeted aerial surveillance, identified terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities, and subsequently executed a precision strike on a building occupied by the terrorists,” he noted.
According to Goni, preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that over 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP Qaid (commander), were neutralised in the strike.
Further intelligence, he said, revealed that the terrorists belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile fighting unit responsible for conducting patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities within the general area.
The army spokesman said the destruction of the enclave and associated operational assets represented a significant setback to the group’s capacity to launch attacks and sustain its activities in the Lake Chad region.
He assured that the Joint Task Force North East remained resolute in sustaining relentless, coordinated air and ground operations to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and consolidate ongoing efforts towards restoring lasting peace and stability in the region.
In Sokoto, troops of the Forward Operating Base, Binji, neutralised a suspected Lakurawa militant following a distress call over the presence of armed men in Soruro village.
The operation took place at about 5 am on Monday, October 12, when the troops reportedly made contact with the suspected terrorists.
The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine and ammunition during the operation.
Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said six armed bandits invaded Soruro village and attacked a resident identified as Dikko Abubakar.
Rufai said the assailants killed Abubakar during the attack, while other members of the group fled the scene.
“Six armed bandits went to Soruro village and attacked one Dikko Abubakar, whom they killed, while the others ran away,” the police spokesperson said.
He added that the security operatives recovered a rifle, a magazine and ammunition from the scene.
The incident comes amid ongoing security operations by military and other security agencies to contain the activities of armed groups in Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West.
