NIGERIAN MILITARY KILLS OVER 40 ISWAP FIGHTERS IN BORNO AIR STRIKE, DESTROYS VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES

By NaijaParrot October 12, 2026

 BORNO STATE, NIGERIA —

Nigerian military air strikes have reportedly killed more than 40 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Badu village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. The operation, carried out on Saturday, October 10, also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles believed to have been used by the insurgents for movement, logistics and attacks. According to the military, the strike targeted an ISWAP hideout after intelligence reports indicated that the fighters were assembling to launch coordinated attacks on Nigerian troops.

In a statement issued on Monday, October 12, in Maiduguri, Captain Mohammed Goni, the Military Information Officer for the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, said the operation followed intelligence about the presence of ISWAP fighters in the area. He explained that the military’s Air Component conducted aerial surveillance to monitor the movements of the insurgents around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before carrying out a precision air strike on a building occupied by the fighters. According to the military, preliminary intelligence and battle damage assessments indicated that more than 40 insurgents, including a prominent ISWAP commander, were killed during the operation. 

 The military said the operation also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the insurgents for transportation, logistics and offensive operations. It added that the strike targeted members of ISWAP’s Murabitun unit, described by the military as a specialised mobile fighting group involved in patrols and the coordination of attacks. The military believes the destruction of the hideout and the group’s transport assets will weaken its ability to organise attacks against security personnel and communities in the area. 

 According to the military statement, intelligence reports indicated that the fighters were preparing coordinated attacks against troops operating within Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai’s area of responsibility. The air strike was intended to disrupt those reported plans and reduce the insurgents’ ability to threaten military positions and nearby communities. The operation forms part of ongoing military efforts to weaken insurgent networks and restrict their movements across the Lake Chad region. 

 The military said further assessments were underway to establish the full extent of the damage caused by the air strike. Although the military reported more than 40 insurgents killed, the figure was based on preliminary intelligence and battle damage assessments. The final assessment had not yet been announced in the reports reviewed as of October 12, 2026. The military also reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and improving security across Nigeria’s North-East. 

 The reported operation represents another military effort to disrupt ISWAP’s activities in Borno State, where insurgent groups have continued to pose security challenges. The coming days may provide further information about the casualties, the destruction of insurgent equipment and the wider impact of the operation. 

 NaijaParrot will continue to follow verified updates from the Nigerian military and other credible sources. 

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