Nigeria’s military has killed 103 Daesh terrorists in seven air strikes targeting the group’s positions and logistics facilities in the country’s northeast, the military said.
Nigerian Army Aviation, remotely piloted aircraft, and the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted the strikes between October 10 and 18 across parts of Borno and Adamawa states.
"The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has sustained intelligence-led precision air strikes against Daesh terrorists across the Joint Operations Area, neutralising a total of 103 terrorists and destroying several logistics hubs," a military statement said.
A major strike on October 18 targeted an alternative residence of Abu Saleem, identified by the military as the Daesh terror group’s South Lake Chad leader, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno.
Neutralised terror targets
The military said intelligence gathered after the strike confirmed the deaths of Jindullah, described as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council, alongside other terrorists.
The strike also destroyed the targeted building, nine boat engines and several motorcycles, according to the statement.
In a separate operation on October 13, a military surveillance aircraft tracked 16 terrorists from the Mairari area to a gathering of more than 100 suspected terror fighters about 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
A subsequent air strike killed an estimated 30 terrorists, the military said, adding that the extent of damage to motorcycles at the site could not be confirmed.
The other strikes targeted positions and facilities around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari and Duste Uku.
Terror infrastructure targeted
The military said the operations destroyed several logistics hubs and storage facilities, disrupting the group’s ability to move supplies and sustain its activities.
"The sustained successes underscore the effectiveness of coordinated, intelligence-led air operations in degrading terrorist capabilities, disrupting command structures and dismantling critical logistics networks," the statement added.
Nigeria’s northeast has faced long-running security challenges from Boko Haram and Daesh terrorists, who have carried out attacks on civilians and security forces, particularly in Borno State.
The military said it would continue intelligence-led operations to dismantle terror networks and prevent fighters from using remote areas as safe havens.
