The Nigerian Air Force has killed more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a prominent commander, in an air strike on a terrorist enclave in Borno State the military has said.

The operation, conducted on October 10, targeted the terrorists’ hideout at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area, following intelligence reports that the insurgents were preparing coordinated attacks on troops in the North-East.

The military also said the strike destroyed two vehicles and about 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, logistics and offensive operations.

Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, in a statement, Monday said the operation followed credible intelligence about a concentration of ISWAP fighters preparing to attack troops operating within Sector 3’s area of responsibility.

According to him, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted aerial surveillance, identified terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities, and subsequently launched a precision strike on a building occupied by the fighters.

“Preliminary Human Intelligence, Battle Damage Assessment indicates that over 40 terrorists, including a prominent ISWAP Qaid (commander), were neutralized in the strike,” Goni said.

He added that the destruction of the vehicles and motorcycles would significantly degrade the terrorists’ operational capabilities and disrupt planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.

The military further disclosed that intelligence assessments indicated that the fighters belonged to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, a specialised mobile fighting unit responsible for patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining the group’s activities in the area.

It said the destruction of the enclave and associated operational assets represented a setback to the group’s ability to launch attacks and sustain its operations in the Lake Chad region

However, the military said further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted during the operation.

The strike underscores the military’s continued reliance on intelligence-led air operations to disrupt terrorist movements, destroy logistics networks and support ground forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations across the North-East.

Operation Hadin Kai has sustained air and ground offensives against Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in Borno and neighbouring areas, where insurgents continue to threaten military positions and vulnerable communities.

The Joint Task Force said it remained committed to coordinated air and ground operations aimed at eliminating terrorist threats, protecting civilians and restoring peace and stability across the region.