Nigerian military forces conducted targeted airstrikes against an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) stronghold in northern Borno State, killing multiple fighters and destroying a major ammunition depot in what security officials describe as a significant blow to the extremist group. The operation, carried out Sunday by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, focused on ISWAP encampments in the Arinna Waje area of Marte Local Government, a region long plagued by insurgent activity.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama reported the developments via social media platform X, citing military sources who confirmed the strikes followed days of surveillance after intelligence revealed a large-scale assembly of ISWAP members. The gathering occurred five days after fierce clashes between ISWAP and a rival Boko Haram faction, underscoring ongoing tensions among militant groups vying for influence in the Lake Chad basin.
“Aircraft were deployed to conduct well-coordinated bombardments on confirmed targets,” Makama stated, quoting military officials. The operation reportedly inflicted heavy casualties, with one strike triggering a powerful secondary explosion—a sign of direct impact on an ammunition cache—while razing multiple logistics hubs and hideouts. High-ranking ISWAP commanders were among those neutralized, though their identities remain undisclosed.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) emphasized collaborative efforts with ground troops and intelligence networks to “sustain momentum” against insurgent operations across strategic zones, including the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad regions. These areas have served as bastions for ISWAP and Boko Haram, both designated terrorist organizations responsible for decades of violence, abductions, and displacement across northeastern Nigeria and neighboring countries.
The strikes highlight Nigeria’s intensified counterinsurgency strategy under Operation Hadin Kai, a joint military initiative launched in 2021 to degrade extremist networks. While the campaign has disrupted several high-profile attacks, security analysts note persistent challenges, including rugged terrain, cross-border militant movements, and evolving guerilla tactics.
Local communities in Borno State, many still recovering from years of insurgency, remain cautious amid sporadic clashes and retaliatory attacks. Humanitarian organizations estimate over two million people have been displaced in the region since the conflict began in 2009, with ongoing military operations and militant activity complicating relief efforts.
Sunday’s operation reflects a broader regional security push, with Lake Chad basin nations—Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger—recently pledging deeper collaboration under the Multinational Joint Task Force to dismantle militant supply lines and financing networks. The destruction of ISWAP’s ammunition stores marks a tactical win, though experts caution that sustained pressure and community-led peacebuilding efforts remain critical to long-term stability.
