Troops neutralise 16 ISWAP fighters in air, artillery strikes in Lake Chad

Operation Hadin Kai Neutralizes 16 Suspected ISWAP Fighters

Troops engaged in Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly neutralized 16 suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during coordinated air and artillery strikes in the Tunbunma area of southern Lake Chad.

The military operation took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, following intelligence indicating the presence of terrorist leaders and fighters in the region.

Captain Mohammed Goni, the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North-East), confirmed the operation’s success in a statement released on Monday. According to Goni, a battle damage assessment revealed that the strikes were effective across three targeted locations.

Among those killed in the operation was Abu Zubiru, identified as an Arab national, along with associates Baana Nglewa and Jindullah Sadiq. The statement also noted that Abu Saleem, reportedly the Wali of Tunbunma, suffered severe injuries during the attack, alongside seven other fighters.

This operation is part of ongoing efforts by the military to disrupt terrorist networks in the Lake Chad Basin. The military has urged the public to provide timely and credible information to assist security agencies in their counter-terrorism operations.

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