The Nigerian military has disclosed that its airstrikes have killed 103 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno and Adamawa states during operations conducted between October 10 and 18.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the military, the operations involved seven airstrikes targeting suspected insurgents, their leaders and logistics facilities under Operation Hadin Kai.
Captain Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer for the Joint Task Force (North-East), said the operations involved Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment and other air component assets.
The military said the strikes targeted locations around Gudumbali and Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area, Badu in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State, and Duste Uku in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
It added that one of the operations, conducted on October 18, targeted the alternate residence of Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno.
According to the military, intelligence gathered after the strike indicated that two senior members of the group, Jindullah, described as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the ISWAP Shura Council, were killed.
The operation also reportedly destroyed nine boat engines and several motorcycles believed to be used by the insurgents.
In another strike on October 13, the military said its surveillance assets tracked suspected fighters to a gathering of more than 100 insurgents near Monguno. A subsequent airstrike reportedly killed about 30 fighters.
The military said the operations were aimed at weakening ISWAP’s leadership, disrupting its logistics networks and preventing the group from using the affected locations as operational bases.
It added that Operation Hadin Kai would sustain intelligence-led operations against insurgents in the North-East.
The military’s reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.
