Troops of the Nigerian military under Operation Hadin Kai have killed several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a high-ranking member of the group’s Shura Council, Abu Hajara, during a fierce encounter in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Those reportedly killed in the October 31, 2026 engagement also included Abul Walid, a prominent ISWAP commander and close associate of the group’s overall leader, Ba Shuwa, as well as two senior Arab fighters.
The military said the operation followed an attempt by ISWAP terrorists to overrun troop positions in Kukawa, where combined ground forces, supported by air assets, successfully repelled the attack.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 1, the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the troops inflicted significant casualties on the attackers.
He added that the operation resulted in the recovery of several weapons, ammunition and communication equipment from the terrorists.
The military described the encounter as a major setback for ISWAP’s leadership structure and operational capacity, noting that the successful defence of the military positions demonstrated the combat readiness and superior firepower of the troops.
The latest operation came barely three days after a fierce encounter in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, where troops reportedly neutralised 55 terrorists, including several high-ranking commanders.
Those identified among the commanders killed in the Buni Yadi operation were Ali Mandara Abba Gajiri, also known as Munzir; Habu Ikkima; Nakif Yana Faruk; and Commander Gogore.
The military said the successive operations were part of sustained efforts to weaken terrorist networks, dismantle their leadership structures and destroy their operational bases across the North-East.
The Theatre Command reaffirmed its determination to protect law-abiding residents and sustain military offensives until terrorist elements and their camps are completely eliminated from the region.
It also assured residents that troops would continue to maintain pressure on insurgents and strengthen security operations across the theatre.
