Troops Kill Top ISWAP Commander, Neutralise Several Terrorists in Borno, Adamawa Operations

Troops of the Nigerian military have eliminated a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander identified as Julaibib during a counterterrorism operation in Borno State.

The development was confirmed in a press statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba. He said intelligence reports verified that Julaibib, a key ISWAP commander operating within the Gujba axis of the notorious Timbuktu Triangle, was killed during an encounter near Kimba in Damboa Local Government Area on January 30, 2026.

According to Uba, the death of the terrorist leader caused significant disruption within ISWAP ranks in the area, with several fighters reportedly neutralised during the operation.

“This operation represents a major blow to the command-and-control structure of ISWAP in the region,” the statement noted.

In a related operation, Uba disclosed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force, neutralised three terrorists during a carefully planned ambush between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities in Borno State.

He said the ambush followed credible intelligence on insurgent movements, adding that troops engaged the terrorists with effective firepower.

“Three insurgents were neutralised, while others escaped with gunshot injuries. Two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the scene,” he said.

The military spokesman explained that the operations are part of sustained efforts to restrict terrorist movement and weaken their operational capabilities across the theatre.

Similarly, on January 29, 2026, troops positioned in an ambush at Tsokorok in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State engaged Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, forcing them to retreat. One terrorist was neutralised during the encounter, with no casualties recorded among the troops. Two motorcycles were recovered at the scene.

In another operation on January 28, 2026, troops, in collaboration with local vigilantes, conducted a fighting patrol along the Amtasa–Washim axis in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

During the patrol, troops encountered terrorists and engaged them in a fierce exchange of fire, forcing the insurgents to flee. The patrol team also rescued a woman who had been abducted by the terrorists.

Items recovered during the operation included one AK-47 rifle with registration number 2056792, two rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one submachine gun, and 42 rounds of assorted ammunition.