Troops of the Nigerian military’s Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have reportedly killed 16 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters during coordinated air and artillery strikes in the southern Lake Chad region.
The operation was conducted between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Monday, October 26, targeting three suspected insurgent locations in the Tunbunma area following intelligence reports about the presence of senior commanders and other fighters.
Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer at the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, confirmed the operation in a statement.
According to Goni, a post-strike battle damage assessment indicated that 16 suspected ISWAP fighters were killed across the targeted locations.
Those reportedly killed included Abu Zubiru, described by the military as an Arab national, and two associates identified as Baana Nglewa and Jindullah Sadiq.
The military also reported that Abu Saleem, identified as the Wali of Tunbunma, sustained severe injuries alongside seven other individuals during the strikes.
Operation Hadin Kai said the offensive formed part of ongoing efforts to disrupt insurgent networks and destroy hideouts used by armed groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
The task force reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led operations across the North-East and urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies.
The Lake Chad Basin remains a major security concern for communities in Nigeria’s North-East and neighbouring countries. Continued military operations aim to weaken insurgent networks, although lasting stability also depends on protecting civilians and supporting the recovery of affected communities.
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