MAIDUGURI/SOKOTO, Nigeria — Nigerian troops have reported fresh operational gains against armed groups in the North-East and North-West, with the military saying an air strike killed more than 40 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State, while soldiers killed a suspected Lakurawa militant in Sokoto State.
The two operations were reported on Monday, October 12, 2026, amid continuing security operations against insurgents and armed groups in different parts of the country.
Air Strike Targets ISWAP Enclave In Borno
According to the military, the air strike was conducted on October 10 at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Air Component of the Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, carried out the operation after receiving intelligence that ISWAP fighters had assembled to prepare coordinated attacks against troops operating within Sector 3.
Captain Mohammed Goni, the task force’s military information officer, said aerial surveillance identified movements around suspected hideouts and logistics facilities before the military launched a precision strike on a building occupied by the fighters.
He said preliminary intelligence and battle-damage assessments indicated that more than 40 fighters, including a prominent ISWAP commander known as a Qaid, were killed.
The military also reported destroying two vehicles and approximately 20 motorcycles allegedly used by the group for transportation, logistics and offensive operations.
Murabitun Fighters Among Those Targeted
The military said intelligence assessments linked the fighters to ISWAP’s Murabitun element, described as a specialised mobile unit involved in patrols, coordinating attacks and sustaining the group’s activities in the area.
According to the task force, destroying the enclave and its associated equipment could disrupt planned attacks on military positions and surrounding communities.
However, the military said further assessments were ongoing to establish the full extent of the damage. The casualty figure remains the military’s reported assessment and has not been independently verified in the available reports.
The operation comes as Nigerian security forces continue to confront ISWAP and other armed groups across the Lake Chad region.
Troops Kill Suspected Lakurawa Member In Sokoto
In a separate incident, troops of the Forward Operating Base in Binji reportedly killed a suspected Lakurawa militant in Soruro village, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The operation followed a distress call about armed men in the community at approximately 5 a.m. on Monday, October 12.
According to a report by Punch, troops engaged the suspected militants, killing one person while others reportedly fled. Security personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine and ammunition.
Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said six armed men had invaded Soruro and attacked a resident identified as Dikko Abubakar, who died in the incident.
Rufai said the other members of the group fled after the attack.
The available report did not establish the identity of the suspected militant killed by the troops or independently confirm his membership of the Lakurawa group.
Security Operations Continue
The incidents highlight the continuing security challenges facing communities in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West.
While the Borno operation targeted an insurgent enclave reportedly preparing attacks on military positions, the Sokoto incident followed an attack on a local resident.
Security agencies continue to face the task of disrupting armed groups while protecting civilians and responding to threats in vulnerable communities.
