The Air Component of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, carried out the operation on October 10, 2026, at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. According to Captain Mohammed Goni, Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, the operation was intelligence-driven and followed credible reports that ISWAP fighters had assembled in the area to launch coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3.
The Air Component responded by conducting targeted aerial surveillance, identifying terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before executing a precision strike on a building occupied by the fighters. Goni said preliminary human intelligence and battle damage assessment indicated that more than 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP commander known as a Qaid, were neutralised during the operation.
The strike also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations. According to Goni, the destruction of the assets had significantly weakened the terrorists’ operational capacity and disrupted their planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.
Further intelligence indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile unit responsible for conducting patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining terrorist activities in the area. The Murabitun element is known for its brutal tactics and has been responsible for several attacks on military personnel and civilians in the region.
The destruction of the enclave and its associated operational assets represents a major setback to the group’s ability to launch attacks and sustain its activities in the Lake Chad region. Goni said further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted during the air strike.
The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led, technology-enabled and coordinated air operations in dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting hostile activities and restricting the movement of armed groups. Goni added that troops under Operation Hadin Kai remained committed to sustaining coordinated air and ground operations to eliminate terrorist threats, protect vulnerable communities and strengthen security across the North-East.
The Joint Task Force would continue its operations to degrade terrorist capabilities and support efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the region. The military has been carrying out operations in the North-East to combat terrorism and insurgency, and the latest air strike is seen as a significant blow to the ISWAP group.
Key points
- Over 40 ISWAP terrorists, including a prominent commander, were killed in the air strike.
- The strike destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists.
- The operation was carried out on October 10, 2026, at Badu Village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
