No fewer than 50 terrorists and a top Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Khalifa Umar, were killed by troops of the Nigerian Army in a series of precision airstrikes targeting insurgent enclaves in the North-East.
The operations were carried out across Borno State, where troops also arrested three suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers and informants, as well as a deserter soldier allegedly linked to criminal activities.
According to an operational report released by Operation Hadin Kai on Wednesday, the airstrikes, conducted around Kirta and Arina Ciki, led to the elimination of several terrorist commanders, including Umar.
The military further disclosed that sustained air offensives had forced insurgents to abandon their fortified island hideouts and disperse into smaller groups, making them more vulnerable to military pursuit.
Items recovered during the operations included a rifle with magazines, a vehicle, 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and other materials believed to have been used to support terrorist activities.
“Troops also conducted fighting patrols along the Kukawa axis, engaging fleeing terrorist scouts and recovering ammunition,” the report stated.
The military noted that its evolving strategy, which combines intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision airstrikes, has significantly disrupted terrorist command structures, logistics networks, and mobility routes.
Military sources said the latest operations underscore ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist leadership, dismantle supply chains, and deny insurgents freedom of movement across Borno State and adjoining border corridors.
They assured that the operations would be sustained to further weaken terrorist capabilities and restore normalcy to the region.