Troops Kill ISWAP Shura Council Member, Commander, Others in Borno

By Zainab Uzomah

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, have killed several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior member of the group’s Shura Council, Abu Hajara, during a failed attack on military positions in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Those reportedly killed in the October 31 encounter include Abul Walid, a prominent ISWAP commander and close associate of the group’s overall leader, Ba Shuwa, as well as two high-ranking Arab fighters.

The Acting Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

According to the statement, combined ground troops, supported by air assets, repelled a large-scale ISWAP assault on military positions in Kukawa.

The troops reportedly deployed superior firepower to defeat the attackers, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing surviving fighters to retreat.

Weapons, ammunition and communication equipment were recovered during the operation.

The military described the encounter as a major setback for ISWAP’s leadership and operational capabilities, saying it demonstrated the combat readiness of troops and their determination to sustain pressure on terrorist groups in the North-East.

The statement noted that the Kukawa attack occurred barely three days after another major engagement in Buni Yadi, where the military reported killing 55 terrorists, including several senior commanders.

Those identified among the casualties in the Buni Yadi operation were Ali Mandara Abba Gajiri, also known as Munzir; Habu Ikkima Nakif Yana Faruk; and Commander Gogore.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to protecting law-abiding residents and sustaining offensive operations to dismantle terrorist networks and destroy their camps across the region.