Military air strikes neutralise 103 terrorists in North-East

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni denied claims that the arrest of politician Alhaji Wakiil Goni Mama, commonly referred to as Mai Salati, was politically motivated, stating that the military has no involvement in political matters. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of commissioners and chairmen of the 17 local government areas in Damaturu, Buni ordered the chairman of Geidam Local Government Area to coordinate with military authorities and community elders regarding the case. The governor's comments came amid allegations that he orchestrated Mai Salati’s arrest due to political tensions. Buni dismissed these accusations, asserting that he does not engage in intimidation tactics against political rivals. He emphasized that such actions contradict his personal principles. Buni reiterated that the military should remain uninvolved in partisan political issues and clarified that Mai Salati’s case was unrelated to politics. Earlier in October, troops under Operation Hadin Kai reportedly detained Mai Salati on suspicion of supplying logistical support to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter group of the Boko Haram insurgency active in the North-East. Media reports from October 8 and 9 indicated that Mai Salati attempted to bribe soldiers to secure the release of individuals arrested in Kanamma, Yobe State, over alleged terrorist logistics activities. According to these reports, the suspects were undergoing processing for further investigation when Mai Salati allegedly tried to influence their release through financial means. Soldiers reportedly refused the offer and instead arrested him, after which he and other suspects were transferred from Damaturu to Maiduguri for continued inquiry. The arrest sparked political debate, with some suggesting it could be linked to Mai Salati’s reported switch from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Security officials refuted the notion that the operation had political motivations, emphasizing that it focused on allegations of terrorism-related logistics and interference with the detention process. Separately, the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), announced the elimination of 103 terrorists and the destruction of multiple logistics hubs and storage facilities through seven precision air strikes carried out between October 10 and 18, 2026. These operations targeted ISWAP fighters, their leadership structures, and logistics networks in parts of Borno and Adamawa states. Captain Mohammed Goni, the OPHK spokesperson, stated that the strikes involved coordinated efforts by the Nigerian Army Aviation, the Nigerian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (NARPAS) Regiment, and Air Component assets. The operations aimed to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their logistics, and prevent them from operating freely. Among the targets were locations in Guzamala, Monguno, and Gombi LGAs, as well as an alternate residence of Abu Saleem, identified as the ISWAP Wali of South Lake Chad. The October 18 operation specifically targeted this location following intelligence and surveillance activities. Human intelligence later confirmed the neutralization of Jindullah, a senior ISWAP fighter serving as Abu Saleem’s chief security guard, along with Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council. On October 13, a Guardian air asset tracked a group of 16 terrorists from the Mairari axis to a gathering of over 100 terrorists near Badu. A precision strike reportedly neutralized approximately 30 of them, though the extent of damage to accompanying motorcycles remained unclear. Additional operations targeted areas around Gudumbali, Badu, Mairari, and Duste Uku, resulting in the destruction of several logistics hubs and storage facilities. Goni credited the success of the operations to intelligence-led strategies and the coordination of various military units. He noted that Operation Hadin Kai would continue its efforts to weaken terrorist capabilities, disrupt command structures, deny insurgents safe havens, and promote enduring peace and security across the North-East.