No fewer than 40 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, have been killed in a precision airstrike by the Air Component of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI.
The Information Officer of the task force, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, the operation followed a precision airstrike on a terrorist enclave in Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, over the weekend.
Goni said the intelligence-led operation was launched following credible reports that a group of ISWAP fighters had gathered to prepare coordinated attacks on troops operating within Sector 3’s area of responsibility.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Air Component conducted targeted aerial surveillance, identified terrorist movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities, and subsequently executed a precision strike on a building occupied by the terrorists,” the statement said.
The task force spokesman disclosed that a prominent ISWAP commander was among the 40 fighters killed in the operation.
He added that the airstrike also destroyed two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles used by the terrorists for transportation, logistics and offensive operations.
According to him, the operation significantly weakened the group’s fighting capability and disrupted its planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.
Over 40 insurgents eliminated as Nigerian military pounds terrorists in Borno