At least 40 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly been killed in Nigerian military airstrikes around Wulgo-Momaduru in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The strikes were carried out under Operation Hadin Kai in the early hours of Tuesday, November 10, following intelligence surveillance that reportedly detected a large gathering of terrorist fighters in the area.
According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, which cited security sources, the fighters were gathered about 1.5 kilometres north-west of the identified location.
Preliminary assessments reportedly showed a large concentration of fighters, prompting the military to launch an air operation to disperse the group and neutralise the threat.
The publication said the first precision strike targeted an identified position, with a post-operation assessment indicating that about 30 fighters were killed and a motorcycle destroyed.
It added that multiple secondary explosions were observed after the strike, suggesting the possible destruction of explosive materials or other combustible items at the location.
As the operation continued, surviving fighters reportedly fled the initial impact area and sought cover under trees in the surrounding area.
However, the military maintained aerial surveillance and tracked their movements, eventually identifying another concentration of ISWAP fighters.
After obtaining the necessary authorisation, a second precision strike was launched against the location.
Zagazola Makama said a subsequent battle damage assessment indicated that 10 additional fighters had been killed, bringing the reported death toll from the operation to 40.
The publication described the coordinated strikes as a significant setback for ISWAP, particularly given the number of fighters reportedly gathered in the area.
It also highlighted the role of intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and precision targeting in disrupting terrorist movements and preventing attacks on military formations and civilian communities.
The Wulgo-Momaduru axis remains strategically important to security operations in the Lake Chad region, where terrorist groups continue to exploit difficult terrain and remote settlements to sustain their activities.
The reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.
