By Stephen Simon
The Nigerian military has reported the killing of 103 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in seven air strikes conducted across parts of Borno and Adamawa states between October 10 and 18.
The Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, said the operations also destroyed several terrorist logistics hubs, storage facilities and other assets used to sustain the insurgents’ activities.
The Acting Military Information Officer of the task force, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
According to the military, the operations involved coordinated deployments of Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment and other air assets.
The strikes targeted suspected terrorist positions around Gudumbali, Badu and Mairari in Borno State, as well as Duste Uku in Adamawa State.
One of the operations reportedly targeted an alternative residence of Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Borno State.
The military said intelligence gathered after the strike confirmed the deaths of prominent members of the group, including a senior fighter and a member of its Shura Council.
It added that the operation destroyed nine boat engines and several motorcycles allegedly stored at the location.
The task force said it would sustain coordinated operations to disrupt terrorist command structures, destroy their logistics networks and prevent them from using remote locations as safe havens.
The casualty figures and operational claims were provided by the military and have not been independently verified.
