Nigerian Air Strikes Kill Two ISWAP Commanders, 13 Other Terrorists In Borno –Military | Sahara Reporters
During surveillance, the aircraft reportedly tracked two suspected terrorists riding on a motorcycle to a makeshift structure beneath a tree.
The Nigerian military says air strikes conducted under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed 15 terrorists, including two prominent commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and destroyed a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) logistics hideout in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
The operation was conducted at about 9:20 p.m. on October 28, 2026, around Kerenoa, north of Marte, following intelligence reports indicating terrorist activities in the area.
The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri by its Acting Media Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni.
According to the statement, obtained by conflict reporter and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the operation involved armed reconnaissance and air interdiction missions aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and dismantling their networks across the North-East.
Goni said military air assets were deployed after intelligence reports indicated the presence of terrorist elements around Kerenoa.
During surveillance, the aircraft reportedly tracked two suspected terrorists riding on a motorcycle to a makeshift structure beneath a tree.
Further monitoring revealed additional movements around the location, suggesting the presence of other fighters.
The military said the air assets subsequently engaged the target with precision strikes.
A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) reportedly indicated that 15 terrorists had been killed and structures at the location destroyed.
The statement added that a secondary fire observed after the strikes suggested that the targeted structure might have been used as a logistics hub for storing materials used in the manufacture of IEDs.
The military identified two prominent ISWAP commanders, Abu Musanna and Hassan Abu Huraira, among those reportedly killed in the operation.
Several other fighters were also said to have sustained severe injuries, including the ISWAP Wali, or governor, of the area, who reportedly suffered critical injuries.
The military described the operation as part of its ongoing intelligence-led air campaign targeting terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and operational capabilities across the North-East.
It said the Joint Task Force would sustain coordinated operations against terrorist groups in the region as part of efforts to restore peace and security.
The statement reaffirmed OPHK’s commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist groups through intelligence-driven operations and coordinated military action across the theatre.