Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed more than 30 suspected terrorists and destroyed several boats during coordinated airstrikes along the Lake Chad waterways near the Kaniram Island axis in northern Borno State.
The military operation was carried out between the night of April 21 and the early hours of April 22, 2026, according to a statement issued by Sani Uba, the spokesperson of the Northeast Joint Task Force.
Uba said intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions first detected a gathering of more than 30 terrorist boats in the area. The boats were allegedly being used by insurgents for movement, coordination and the transportation of supplies across the waterways.
After confirming the targets, the air component of Operation Hadin Kai launched precision strikes on the location, destroying several boats and dismantling what the military described as a key logistics network used by fighters operating around the Lake Chad basin.
He said the attack disrupted the group’s movement routes and weakened its ability to sustain operations in the area.
According to the statement, real-time surveillance later tracked fleeing insurgents attempting to hide and regroup in nearby vegetation, prompting additional strikes that led to the killing of over 30 fighters.
The military said surviving members fled in confusion, indicating a breakdown in their command structure.
In a separate operation at Sowolwolo in the Sambisa Forest axis, troops carried out more precision-guided strikes after identifying fresh targets.
Uba said the strikes destroyed three terrorist gun trucks and killed more insurgents operating in the area.
A post-strike battle damage assessment, supported by intelligence reports, also indicated heavy casualties among the insurgents, including reports of mass burial activities by suspected ISWAP members around the Mallam Fatori axis.
The military said ground forces are currently advancing into adjoining areas to consolidate the gains of the operation and prevent fleeing fighters from regrouping.
It added that the latest offensives demonstrate continued pressure on terrorist groups through coordinated air and ground operations across the North-East theatre.
