The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, says its air component has killed 15 terrorists, including two senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), during a precision airstrike in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said in a statement on Friday, that the operation, carried out at about 9:20 p.m. on October 28, targeted a terrorist hideout around Kerenoa following credible intelligence on the movement and activities of insurgents in the area.
According to him, surveillance aircraft tracked two terrorists riding on a motorcycle to a makeshift shelter beneath a tree. Further monitoring revealed more fighters gathering around the location before the airstrike was launched.
He said the precision strike destroyed the hideout and eliminated 15 terrorists during the operation.
He added that a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment showed that the destroyed structure was likely being used as a logistics base for storing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as a secondary fire broke out after the attack.
Operation Hadin Kai spokesman also disclosed that two prominent ISWAP commanders, Abu Musanna and Hassan Abu Huraira, were among those killed in the strike. Several other fighters were reportedly wounded, including the group’s Wali (Governor) in the area, who was said to have sustained critical injuries.
Captain Goni said the latest operation was part of its sustained intelligence-driven campaign to weaken terrorist networks, destroy their logistics bases and deny them freedom of movement across the North-East.
The North-East has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency for more than a decade, with security forces sustaining land and air offensives to restore peace to affected communities.
Military spokesman said recent operations have continued to target terrorist camps, commanders, weapons stockpiles and supply routes as part of efforts to improve security and enable displaced residents to safely return to their communities.
Captain Goni reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining coordinated operations until lasting peace is restored across the region.