At least 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters were reportedly killed in air strikes conducted under Operation Hadin Kai around Wulgo–Momaduru in Ngala LGA of Borno state.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency
publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the strikes were carried out in
the early hours of Tuesday, November 10, following intelligence surveillance
that detected a large gathering of terrorist fighters about 1.5 kilometres
north-west of Wulgo–Momaduru.
The publication quoted security sources as saying the
initial assessment revealed a significant concentration of terrorists in the
area, prompting an air operation to disrupt the gathering and eliminate the
threat.
Makama said a precision strike was carried out against the
first identified position, while a post-strike assessment indicated that about
30 terrorists were neutralised and a motorcycle destroyed.
It added that multiple secondary explosions were observed
after the strike, suggesting the possible destruction of additional explosive
materials or other combustible items at the location.
“As the operation progressed, surviving terrorists were
observed fleeing the initial impact area in an apparent attempt to escape the
assault. Some of the fleeing fighters subsequently sought cover beneath trees
in the surrounding area,” it said.
Makama said the military maintained surveillance and tracked
the movement of the fleeing fighters, leading to the identification of another
concentration of ISWAP fighters.
The publication said a second precision strike was launched
against their position after the necessary authorisation was obtained.
It added that a subsequent battle damage assessment
indicated that 10 more fighters were killed, bringing the total number of
terrorists reportedly neutralised in the operation to 40.
Makama said the coordinated strikes represented a
significant operational setback for ISWAP, particularly given the number of
fighters reportedly gathered in the area.
“The operation also illustrated the importance of sustained
intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and precision targeting in
disrupting terrorist concentrations before they can reorganise, reinforce their
positions or launch attacks against military formations and civilian
communities,” Makama reported.
“The Wulgo–Momaduru axis remains strategically important to
security operations in the Lake Chad region, where terrorist groups have
continued to exploit difficult terrain and remote settlements to sustain their
activities.”
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