Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have shot dead a commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during a counter-insurgency operation in Yobe State, in what security sources describe as another significant blow to terrorist activities in Nigeria’s North-East.
Military sources disclosed that the operation was carried out following intelligence on the movement of insurgents in parts of Yobe, where troops engaged the terrorists in a gun battle. During the encounter, the ISWAP commander was neutralised while several fighters reportedly fled with gunshot wounds.
The operation forms part of intensified offensives by troops under Operation Hadin Kai, the joint military task force mandated to combat insurgency across the North-East region.
Security officials said the elimination of the commander is expected to disrupt the group’s operational coordination in the area, as commanders often play key roles in planning attacks and maintaining communication among fighters.
In recent months, the Nigerian military has stepped up land and air operations targeting insurgent enclaves in Borno, Yobe and surrounding communities, leading to the killing of several high-profile commanders and the destruction of terrorist hideouts.
ISWAP, a splinter faction of Boko Haram, has remained active around the Lake Chad basin, carrying out attacks on military formations and civilian communities.
Military authorities have reiterated their commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups until peace and stability are fully restored in the region.