Air strikes kill ‘40 ISWAP fighters’ in Borno

At least 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters were reportedly killed in air strikes conducted under Operation Hadin Kai around Wulgo–Momaduru in Ngala LGA of Borno state.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the strikes were carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, November 10, following intelligence surveillance that detected a large gathering of terrorist fighters about 1.5 kilometres north-west of Wulgo–Momaduru.

The publication quoted security sources as saying the initial assessment revealed a significant concentration of terrorists in the area, prompting an air operation to disrupt the gathering and eliminate the threat.

Makama said a precision strike was carried out against the first identified position, while a post-strike assessment indicated that about 30 terrorists were neutralised and a motorcycle destroyed.

It added that multiple secondary explosions were observed after the strike, suggesting the possible destruction of additional explosive materials or other combustible items at the location.

“As the operation progressed, surviving terrorists were observed fleeing the initial impact area in an apparent attempt to escape the assault. Some of the fleeing fighters subsequently sought cover beneath trees in the surrounding area,” it said.

Makama said the military maintained surveillance and tracked the movement of the fleeing fighters, leading to the identification of another concentration of ISWAP fighters.

The publication said a second precision strike was launched against their position after the necessary authorisation was obtained.

It added that a subsequent battle damage assessment indicated that 10 more fighters were killed, bringing the total number of terrorists reportedly neutralised in the operation to 40.

Makama said the coordinated strikes represented a significant operational setback for ISWAP, particularly given the number of fighters reportedly gathered in the area.

“The operation also illustrated the importance of sustained intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and precision targeting in disrupting terrorist concentrations before they can reorganise, reinforce their positions or launch attacks against military formations and civilian communities,” Makama reported.

“The Wulgo–Momaduru axis remains strategically important to security operations in the Lake Chad region, where terrorist groups have continued to exploit difficult terrain and remote settlements to sustain their activities.”