Air Delivered event in Lake Chad, Tumbunma area, Nigeria on Mon 26th October 2026

OPERATION HADIN KAI NEUTRALISES 16 ISWAP FIGHTERS, TARGETS TERRORIST LEADERS IN LAKE CHAD 

By: Zagazola Makama 

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised 16 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters during coordinated air and artillery strikes on three suspected terrorist locations in the Tunbunma area of the southern Lake Chad region.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Oct. 26, following intelligence reports indicating the presence of key terrorist leaders and fighters at the targeted locations.

The sources said the operation involved the coordinated deployment of air and ground weapon systems to strike the identified terrorist positions.

A preliminary battle damage assessment indicated that 16 suspected ISWAP fighters were neutralised across the three locations.

Among those reportedly killed was Abu Zubiru, described as an Arab national, alongside two associates identified as Baana Nglewa and Jindullah Sadiq.

The sources added that Abu Saleem, identified as the Wali of Tunbunma, sustained severe injuries alongside seven other suspected fighters during the strikes.

The operation represents another attempt by OPHK to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership structure, degrade its fighting capacity and destroy its operational enclaves within the Lake Chad Basin.

The Tunbunma area, situated within the Lake Chad theatre, remains strategically important to terrorist groups operating across the waterways and surrounding islands, where difficult terrain can complicate surveillance and ground operations.

The latest strikes underscore the continued reliance on intelligence-led operations and coordinated air and ground capabilities to target terrorist concentrations and deny insurgents safe havens.

Operation Hadin Kai has reiterated its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist elements until security and normalcy are restored across the North-East.

Members of the public have also been urged to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.