The military says seven air strikes in Borno and Adamawa states killed 103 Islamic State West Africa Province fighters and destroyed logistics facilities between October 10 and 18.
Operation Hadin Kai spokesperson Captain Mohammed Goni announced the figures in a statement on Tuesday, according to Vanguard. The reported toll is the military’s assessment, not an independently established casualty count.
The operations involved Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Regiment and Air Component assets. Goni said they targeted suspected ISWAP positions, leadership locations and supply networks.
Vanguard reported that the targeted areas included Gudumbali, Badu and Mairari in Borno, and Duste Uku in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa.
Goni said an October 18 strike hit an alternative residence of Abu Saleem, whom the military identified as an ISWAP leader in South Lake Chad, in the Arina Woje area of Monguno.
According to the military statement reported by Vanguard, subsequent intelligence indicated that Jindullah, described as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and council member Abul Kissa were among those killed. The spokesperson said the strike destroyed the building, nine boat engines and several motorcycles.
In a separate October 13 operation, the military said an aircraft tracked 16 fighters from the Mairari axis to a gathering of more than 100 suspected fighters. The location was about 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno.
Goni put the assessed toll from that strike at about 30, but said the extent of damage to motorcycles at the location had not been confirmed.
NaijaTrend earlier reported the military’s account of an October 10 Borno air strike here. The latest statement covers seven operations across the October 10–18 period.
Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post
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