•Superior coordination and regional cooperation delivered a crippling blow to ISWAP
••Security sources call the action one of the most decisive recent blows against ISWAP in the Lake Chad region.
A decisive and professionally executed military operation in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State has left 75 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters neutralised, security sources confirm — a significant setback for the insurgent group and a clear demonstration of the Nigerian military’s growing operational superiority.
Initial battlefield reports put the insurgent death toll at 61 following a rapid, coordinated response by troops of Operation Hadin Kai supported by the Nigerian Air Force. Subsequent mop-up and updated assessments have raised that figure to 75, with several others believed to have fled with severe injuries.
The pre-dawn assault saw ISWAP elements advancing on foot from the Duguri axis toward the Bravo Company frontage of the 68 Battalion, reportedly employing armed drones in an effort to breach defensive lines. The attackers were detected early and immediately met with seamless, combined arms resistance.
Military sources say the outcome was driven by exceptional air-ground coordination. Four precision air interdiction strikes targeted identified withdrawal routes, degrading the terrorists’ combat capability and pinning them down for sustained bombardment. The insurgents were ultimately forced into a chaotic retreat toward the Arege axis.
Regional cooperation amplified the effect: allied air assets from the Niger Republic conducted additional strike passes on fleeing fighters. While a full battle damage assessment is ongoing, security officials believe the combined firepower substantially increased enemy casualties.
Troops on the ground recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the battlefield, further degrading ISWAP’s operational capacity in the Lake Chad region. Government forces suffered only minor losses: four soldiers sustained minor injuries and have been stabilised.
Security analysts describe the operation as one of the most convincing recent blows against ISWAP, underscoring the improving integration of air and ground forces, precise use of airpower, and effective regional cooperation. The outcome highlights the military’s commitment and capability to protect communities and disrupt extremist networks across the North-East.
