Troops Eliminate 5 Top ISWAP Commanders, Over 50 Terrorists in Devastating Counter-Offensive Across Borno, Yobe
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed no fewer than 62 terrorists, including five notorious field commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), after repelling multiple coordinated attacks on military bases across Borno and Yobe States — a feat described as the biggest operational success against insurgents in 2025.
The simultaneous attacks occurred between midnight and 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, when ISWAP fighters launched massive offensives on troop locations in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, within Sectors 1 and 2 of the Joint Operations Area.
In a statement on Thursday, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), said the troops fought gallantly and professionally, repelling the assaults and inflicting devastating casualties on the attackers.
“In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow,” Uba said.
He added that coordinated ground and air operations, backed by precision strikes from the Air Component of OPHK, neutralised more than 62 terrorists and forced dozens of others to flee with injuries. The troops recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition during the clearance operations.
Military sources confirmed that five top ISWAP field commanders were among those killed. They were identified as Ari Kolo (Munzir Abbagajiri), Ya Muhammad (from Dosula), Abu Aisha (from Abba Gajiri), Hamzalah (Qaid at Gambo Gege and Faruk Villages), and Abu Rijal (from Dosula).
According to intelligence reports, the slain commanders were key tacticians responsible for several previous attacks on military bases, ambushes on patrol convoys, and the deployment of drone-assisted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the North East.
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Military intelligence described their deaths as a decisive degradation of ISWAP’s tactical and command structure, noting that the commanders had coordinated the failed offensive from multiple fronts, deploying RPGs, anti-aircraft guns, and suicide units in an attempt to overrun troop locations.
However, their efforts were crushed in a massive combined air and ground counter-assault that lasted over four hours. In Dikwa, Katarko, and Gajibo, the troops’ response was swift and overwhelming, while in Mafa, the terrorists managed to infiltrate briefly, burning a few vehicles before being completely subdued.
Uba said that the precision airstrikes, supported by enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, gave the troops the upper hand. He added that over 70 wounded insurgents were still being pursued by ground forces, with air units maintaining close coordination to ensure total clearance of the fleeing remnants.
Intelligence reports also revealed that attackers who stormed Dikwa and Gajibo manoeuvred from the Cameroon axis, while those who attacked Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist enclave.
Some gallant soldiers sustained injuries during the encounter but were reported to be in stable condition. A few buildings and vehicles in Mafa and Dikwa were damaged by rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and drone strikes.
The Military High Command has commended the gallantry and professionalism of the troops, describing their performance as a reaffirmation of the Armed Forces’ unwavering resolve and capacity to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Security analysts have hailed the coordinated defeat of ISWAP across multiple fronts as a major turning point in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign, marking one of the most decisive blows ever dealt to insurgents in the North East.
“The elimination of the five commanders and dozens of fighters will significantly weaken ISWAP’s operational capacity and disrupt their plans for future coordinated attacks,” one analyst observed.
The military also urged residents of affected communities to remain calm and to promptly report any suspicious movements to security agencies, assuring that efforts were ongoing to consolidate the latest gains and prevent reprisal attacks.
By PRNigeria
