A joint air operation conducted by the Nigerian Military under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) and the United States Africa Command (US-AFRICOM) has reportedly neutralised 21 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The airstrike targeted a terrorist camp used by insurgents to plan and coordinate hostile activities across the Lake Chad region.
Similarly three “ISWAP lieutenants” who served in the inner circle of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the terrorist leader recently killed in a precision strike on a hideout in the Lake Chad Basin, were also taken out in the strike. Sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, that the lieutenants are Abu Huraira, Ba Yuram and Mallam Haruna.
The three men were regarded as key figures within the group’s operational, logistical and security structures. “Before his death Abu Huraira, was the Fiya of Tumbun Mota and son-in-law to Abbor Mainok, who played a key role in coordinating field operations and maintaining influence over fighters operating within the Tumbun Mota axis,” Zagazola said.
“While Ba Yuram, was another powerful Amir responsible for logistics, procurement, weapons acquisition, supplies and transportation networks across ISWAP enclaves throughout the Lake Chad Basin. Intelligence sources described him as one of the most important figures sustaining the group’s war machine. “Another notable figure was Mallam Haruna, Abbor Mainok’s personal bodyguard and Chief Security Officer (CSO), who managed the security architecture around the slain commander and coordinated his movements between various insurgent enclaves while evading security forces.
“Among other notable terrorist commanders confirmed killed during the operations are: Abubakar Buduma, the Qa’id of Kirta Wulgo, who sustained severe injuries during an earlier strike near Kirta Wulgo and later succumbed to his wounds.”
Sources told Makama that the deaths of al-Minuki and his three lieutenants have created a major leadership gap within ISWAP’s command structure in the Lake Chad Basin. Zagazola Makama, citing military sources, said the operation was carried out on May 30 following credible intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts which confirmed the presence of ISWAP members in the area.
According to the sources, the strike was directed at a camp allegedly being used by the terrorists to plan and coordinate attacks across the Lake Chad region. The operation reportedly resulted in the killing of 21 insurgents and significantly disrupted the group’s activities in the area. Military sources said the mission forms part of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, destroying insurgent hideouts and limiting their operational capacity in the North-East.
They described the operation as intelligence-driven and carefully executed to achieve maximum impact against the targeted terrorists. The sources further noted that the successful strike highlights the growing collaboration between Nigerian security forces and international partners in the fight against terrorism. They expressed optimism that the operation would further weaken insurgent activities around the Lake Chad Basin, where terrorist groups have continued efforts to regroup and launch attacks on vulnerable communities.
