Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have reportedly killed more than 35 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in a coordinated operation around Kumshe, a border community in Borno state.
The operation happened after ISWAP fighters attempted to attack military positions in Kumshe early Saturday.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the insurgents, advancing from the Gulumba Gana axis, launched an assault but were repelled by intense fire from the Nigerian troops.
Preliminary reports indicated that ISWAP suffered heavy losses, with at least 35 fighters killed.
The publication added that some injured insurgents were evacuated to the Zangeri camp near Gulumba Gana, while others were buried or left on the battlefield due to the swift military response.
The military, however, also sustained casualties, with one soldier killed and two others injured.
Meanwhile, to reinforce the ground troops, the NAF conducted precision air strikes targeting terrorist assembly points near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
These strikes were said to have disrupted ISWAP’s operational capabilities and prevented further reinforcements.
In a statement, Ehimen Ejodame, NAF’s director of public relations and information, said the air strikes executed terrorists in four major camps near Kumshe.
He confirmed that communication with ground forces after the operation showed the area had been stabilised.
“The latest operation demonstrates the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment to providing close air support to ground troops, while also disrupting terrorist logistics networks and movement corridors in the volatile border region,” he said.
Hasan Bala Abubakar, chief of air staff, praised the troops’ bravery and the precision of the aircrew, assuring that the NAF will continue intelligence-driven operations until terrorist threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty are eliminated
