Nigerian military kills 103 ISWAP fighters in series of air strikes

Nigerian military kills 103 ISWAP fighters in series of air strikes - A targeting-camera view shows a Nigerian military air strike on a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) target in northeastern Nigeria during operations conducted between October 10 and 18, 2026. (Photo: HQ NIgerian Army / Facebook)

One of the attacks targeted an alternative residence linked to Abu Saleem, a senior ISWAP leader responsible for the South Lake Chad area, in Borno State on October 18.

The Nigerian military says it killed 103 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in seven air strikes across northeastern Nigeria between October 10 and 18.

One of the attacks targeted an alternative residence linked to Abu Saleem, a senior ISWAP leader responsible for the South Lake Chad area, in Borno State on October 18. According to the Nigerian military, the strike in Arina Woje, Monguno Local Government Area, killed two prominent members of the militant group.

Intelligence gathered after the attack reportedly confirmed the deaths of Jindullah, identified as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, and Abul Kissa, a member of the council that helps direct ISWAP’s affairs, alongside other fighters. The strike also destroyed the targeted building and equipment, including nine boat engines and several motorcycles.

“It also disrupted terrorist concealment arrangements within the forested area, further undermining the group’s ability to use the location as a haven for its activities,” the military said on Facebook on Tuesday.

The October 18 attack was part of a wider campaign against ISWAP positions and supply networks in Borno and Adamawa states. Another major strike took place five days earlier, after military surveillance tracked suspected fighters to a large gathering near Badu in Borno State.

According to the military, an aircraft tracked 16 fighters from the Mairari area to a gathering of more than 100 militants accompanied by motorcycles, about 23 kilometres east of Badu and 19 kilometres west of Monguno. A subsequent strike was assessed to have killed about 30 fighters.

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Other attacks targeted Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area on October 10, Badu in Monguno on October 11, Mairari and an area east of Badu on October 13, and Duste Uku in Gombi Local Government Area, Adamawa State, on October 16. The operations, the army says, were intended to weaken ISWAP’s leadership, disrupt its logistics and deny the group safe havens.

“The sustained successes underscore the effectiveness of coordinated, intelligence-led air operations in degrading terrorist capabilities, disrupting command structures and dismantling critical logistics networks,” the statement said.