Soldiers Destroy Terrorists’ Boats, Kill Over 30 Near Borno Waterways

In a significant counter-terrorism success, troops under the Nigerian Army's Operation Hadin Kai have delivered a major blow to insurgents operating in the Lake Chad region. Early Wednesday morning, a sustained offensive operation resulted in the neutralization of over 30 terrorists and the destruction of several boats used for logistics and movement around Kaniram Island in Borno State.

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Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in sustained offensive operations conducted on the night of 21/22 April 2026, delivered devastating precision air strikes that dismantled ISWAP terrorist logistics networks along the Lake Chad waterways around the Kaniram Island axis in Northern Borno State.

The operation, which commenced Tuesday night, involved devastating precision air strikes coordinated by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) inputs confirmed a concentration of over 30 terrorist boats and associated elements coordinating movement and resupply activities. After careful target validation, well-coordinated strikes were executed, dismantling the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist logistics networks.

According to Lt Col Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, the strikes significantly degraded the terrorists' mobility and operational capacity. Real-time ISR enabled rapid follow-on strikes on fleeing and regrouping elements, leading to the neutralization of over 30 terrorists and causing a breakdown in their command structure. In a related engagement in the Sambisa Forest axis, additional strikes destroyed three terrorist gun trucks and neutralized more insurgents.

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Acting on credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance inputs, OPHK air assets established a persistent overhead presence and confirmed the concentration of over 30 terrorist boats and associated terrorist elements coordinating movement and resupply activities. Target validation and identification were carefully achieved, ensuring high targeting fidelity before engagement.

This successful operation highlights the Nigerian military's sustained offensive pressure and effective air-land integration in dismantling terrorist networks. The Battle Damage Assessment confirmed significant enemy losses, with evidence of mass burial activities, particularly by ISWAP elements. This victory is a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in Nigeria's Northeast, demonstrating the military's commitment to eradicating insurgency and protecting civilian populations.

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This immediately degraded their mobility and ability to sustain operations. Real-time ISR enabled rapid follow-on strikes on fleeing and regrouping elements within nearby vegetation, leading to the neutralisation of over 30 terrorists. Surviving elements were observed escaping in disarray, reflecting a breakdown in their cohesion and command structure.