Manny Ita –
Nigerian troops working alongside the United States Africa Command have carried out coordinated airstrikes against ISWAP fighters in northeastern Nigeria, reportedly killing more than 20 militants in Borno State.
The latest offensive targeted terrorist enclaves around the Lake Chad region, an area that has remained a stronghold for Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents despite years of military operations.
Security officials said the strikes were part of an intensified counterterrorism campaign aimed at dismantling the group’s operational bases, disrupting logistics routes and weakening leadership structures across northeastern Nigeria.
The operation came shortly after the reported killing of senior ISIS-linked commander Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, who was described as one of the key figures coordinating extremist activities in the region. Military sources said his death dealt a major blow to ISWAP’s command network and intelligence operations.
According to officials familiar with the mission, surveillance intelligence and aerial coordination played a critical role in identifying militant hideouts before the strikes were launched.
The Nigerian military has continued to deepen security cooperation with international allies, especially in intelligence sharing, aerial surveillance and counterinsurgency operations, as authorities seek to contain persistent terrorist attacks in parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
Residents in some affected communities reportedly observed intensified military air activity over the weekend, while security personnel maintained ground patrols to prevent surviving insurgents from regrouping.
Although authorities say recent operations have significantly weakened ISWAP’s capabilities, security analysts warn that the group still poses a serious threat through guerrilla-style attacks, ambushes and raids on remote communities and military positions across the northeast.
