KEY POINTS
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Troops reportedly killed Abu Hajara, an ISWAP Shura Council member, and senior commander Abul Walid in Kukawa.
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The operation followed a separate engagement in Buni Yadi in which 55 suspected terrorists were reportedly killed.
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The military says it will continue operations against insurgent networks across north-eastern Nigeria.
Nigerian troops have reportedly killed several Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters, including a member of the group’s Shura Council and a senior commander, during a military operation in Borno State.
The reported killings followed an attack on military positions in Kukawa Local Government Area on October 31, 2026, according to security sources cited by conflict reporter and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama.
The troops, operating under the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, reportedly repelled the insurgents with ground firepower and support from the Nigerian Air Force.
ISWAP leaders reportedly among those killed
The security sources identified one of the slain fighters as Abu Hajara, described as a prominent member of ISWAP’s Shura Council, the group’s consultative leadership body.
Another was identified as Abul Walid, a senior commander reportedly associated with Ba Shuwa, ISWAP’s overall Wali, or leader.
The sources also reported the deaths of two high-ranking Arab fighters during the engagement.
According to the accounts, the military response inflicted casualties on the insurgents and disrupted their leadership and operational activities in the area.
Troops reportedly recovered weapons, ammunition and communication devices following the fighting.
The military claims had not been independently verified in the report.
Operation follows reported killings in Buni Yadi
The Kukawa engagement came less than three days after another reported military operation in Buni Yadi, where 55 suspected terrorists were said to have been killed.
Those reportedly killed in that operation included ISWAP commanders Ali Mandara Abba Gajiri, also known as Munzir, Habu Ikkima Nakif Yana Faruk and Commander Gogore.
The two reported engagements form part of ongoing military operations against insurgent groups operating across Borno State, including areas around Lake Chad and other locations where ISWAP maintains a presence.
The latest reported casualties could affect the group’s operations in the affected areas, although the extent of any impact on its wider command structure remains unclear.
Military vows to sustain offensive operations
The Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians and continuing offensive operations against terrorist groups in the North-East.
It said the military would sustain efforts to dismantle insurgent networks, destroy their camps and restore lasting security across the region.
ISWAP remains one of the armed groups involved in the prolonged insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria, where military forces continue to conduct operations aimed at reducing militant activity and protecting communities.
