The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, has killed 16 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in coordinated air and artillery strikes across the South Lake Chad area.
The strikes were carried out between 1am and 2am on Monday, 26 October 2026, targeting three identified insurgent enclaves in the Tunbunma general area following intelligence reports indicating the presence of senior insurgent commanders and fighters.
The Acting Military Information Officer at Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Maiduguri, Captain Mohammed Goni, confirmed the operation in a statement issued on Monday.
He said “the joint operation deployed air assets and ground artillery systems against the identified locations, destroying key hideouts used by the insurgent network.”
A battle damage assessment conducted after the strikes confirmed that 16 ISWAP fighters had been killed across the targeted locations.
Those reportedly killed included senior insurgent figures Abu Zubiru, an Arab national, and his associates, Baana Nglewa and Jindullah Sadiq.
The strikes also left Abu Saleem, identified as the Wali of Tunbunma, and seven other insurgents with severe injuries. They were reportedly present at a meeting point used by the group’s commanders.
Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) reaffirmed its commitment to sustained counter-terrorism operations, stating that insurgents would find no safe haven in the region.
The military said Operation Hadin Kai would continue intelligence-led air and ground operations to restore lasting peace and normalcy across Nigeria’s North East.
It also urged members of the public to support the campaign by providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
