The Nigerian military has intensified its offensive against terrorists in the North East, killing 15 fighters, including two senior ISWAP commanders, during a precision airstrike in Borno State.
Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, confirmed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday.
Captain Goni said the operation was carried out at about 9:20 p.m. on October 28 in Kerenoa, Marte Local Government Area, following credible intelligence on terrorist activities in the area.
According to him, surveillance aircraft tracked two terrorists riding on a motorcycle to a makeshift camp hidden beneath a tree, where more fighters later gathered.
The air force immediately launched precision strikes on the location, destroying the camp and several structures used by the terrorists.
A Battle Damage Assessment conducted after the operation showed that 15 terrorists were neutralised during the strike.
The military spokesman also said the destroyed camp served as a logistics base for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with a secondary explosion after the attack indicating that explosives were stored at the location.
He added that two high-profile ISWAP commanders, Abu Musanna and Hassan Abu Huraira, were among those killed in the operation.
Several other terrorists were reportedly wounded, including the ISWAP Wali (Governor) of the area, who was said to have sustained critical injuries.
Operation HADIN KAI said the successful mission forms part of its ongoing intelligence-led campaign to destroy terrorist hideouts, disrupt their logistics network and weaken their operational capability across the North East.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining coordinated land and air operations until lasting peace and security are restored in the region.
