Troops, NAF Neutralise Dozens of ISWAP Terrorists in Kumshe, Borno
By Janeth John
In a successful joint operation, troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have neutralised scores of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists near Kumshe, a strategic border town in Borno State.
The operation was launched in response to a coordinated attack by ISWAP insurgents on military positions in Kumshe in the early hours of Saturday. Acting swiftly, ground forces and air assets executed a well-coordinated counteroffensive that resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 35 terrorists.
According to intelligence sources, the insurgents, advancing from the Gulumba Gana axis, attempted to breach military defenses but were met with intense resistance. The joint ground and air assault forced the terrorists to retreat, suffering heavy casualties in the process.
Field assessments indicate that ISWAP evacuated between eight and ten wounded fighters to their Zangeri camp near Gulumba Gana. Five bodies were reportedly buried by the fleeing insurgents, while several others were left behind on the battlefield.
Despite the tactical success, the Nigerian military also recorded casualties, with one soldier confirmed dead and two others injured during the encounter.
To prevent regrouping and further attacks, the Nigerian Air Force conducted precise air interdictions targeting fleeing and regrouping ISWAP elements along the Nigeria–Cameroon border. These successive airstrikes further degraded the insurgents' capabilities, neutralising additional fighters and disrupting their operational momentum.
The military continues to maintain a strong presence in the region to ensure the safety of residents and to prevent future incursions by terrorist elements.
