In brief
On Oct. 31, Nigerian troops manning positions in Borno and Yobe states repelled coordinated attacks and killed at least 48 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, the army said. The operations, part of Operation Hadin Kai, were supported by air assets and resulted in one soldier death, two wounds, and the seizure of 52 firearms. Both Xinhua and Punch reported the same figures and highlighted the joint task force’s role.
On Oct. 31, 2026, Nigerian troops defending positions in Borno and Yobe states repelled two ISWAP attacks, killing at least 48 suspected fighters, the army said. The operation was carried out by the joint task force for Operation Hadin Kai, with air support, and resulted in the seizure of 52 firearms.
Mohammed Goni, spokesperson for the joint task force, said the assaults targeted military positions in Bitta, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and Buni Yadi in Yobe State. The troops in Bitta were attacked late Thursday and repelled the attack with a coordinated response, while in Yobe they launched a counter‑offensive against a large concentration of fighters that had been active from Thursday night into the early hours of Friday.
During the counter‑offensive, the army said one soldier was killed and two others wounded. The troops also seized 52 firearms from the ISWAP fighters.
Operation Hadin Kai
The joint task force said it would continue operations against terrorist groups to degrade their operational capabilities and weaken their recruitment, propaganda and coordination. ISWAP has been collaborating with Boko Haram to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria and has extended attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Both Xinhua and the Nigerian newspaper Punch reported the same casualty and seizure figures, underscoring the joint task force’s role in the engagements.
