A total of 103 insurgents were neutralised during seven airstrikes carried out between October 10 and 18 as part of Operation Hadin Kai – a military campaign against armed groups in north-eastern Nigeria – the Nigerian military announced.
According to a statement issued on October 19 by Captain Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer for the Operation Hadin Kai headquarters, the strikes resulted in the neutralisation of 103 insurgents and the destruction of several logistical and storage facilities used by the miltant groups.
The operations targeted various locations in Borno State, including Gudumbali (in the Guzamala Local Government Area) on October 10; Badu (in the Monguno Local Government Area) on October 11; and Mairari, along with an area east of Badu, on October 13.
Another strike targeted Duste Uku, in Adamawa State, on October 16.
On October 18, a strike hit a secondary residence belonging to Abu Saleem – identified by the military as the ‘wali’, or governor, of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) for the southern Lake Chad Basin.
The operation also destroyed nine boat engines and several motorcycles, according to the same source.
On October 13, aerial surveillance assets spotted a group of 16 fighters moving from the direction of Mairari toward a gathering of over 100 terrorists – accompanied by several motorcycles – approximately 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
A strike carried out against this gathering resulted in the deaths of approximately 30 fighters, according to a military estimate.
However, the extent of the damage inflicted on the motorcycles has not yet been confirmed.
The Nigerian military attributes these outcomes to coordination between its air component, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regiment (NARPAS), and ground forces.
It states that the operations are aimed at disrupting the command structures of armed groups,
destroying their logistical capabilities, and denying them safe havens.
Operation Hadin Kai is the Nigerian military framework deployed in the northeast of the country against Boko Haram and ISWAP – two jihadist groups active in the Lake Chad Basin.
This region, which includes Borno State, continues to face attacks targeting security forces and
civilians, despite military operations that have been ongoing for several years.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA