Military  Helicopter Gunship Kills Eight ISWAP Terrorists During Night Operation in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Military Air component of Operation HADIN KAI has killed eight suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a night combat mission along the Bama–Maiduguri axis in Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 11:00 p.m. on July 22 by military deployed  along the Main Supply Route (MSR) linking Bama, the University of Maiduguri and Maiduguri.

During the mission, the helicopter crew conducted surveillance over a known terrorist activity area after observing muzzle flashes emanating from a location previously identified through intelligence as an insurgent training ground.

To confirm the presence of the terrorists, the crew fired probing shots into the area, prompting armed insurgents to open fire on the aircraft.

The hostile response confirmed the presence of the terrorists, following which attack aircraft engaged the target with sustained and overwhelming firepower.

Military sources said the engagement resulted in the neutralisation of eight terrorists, while surviving insurgents dispersed into the surrounding area.

The operation forms part of intensified air operations under Operation HADIN KAI aimed at denying insurgents freedom of movement, disrupting training camps and securing key supply routes across the North-East.

Security sources said the successful night strike demonstrates the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven aerial operations in detecting and engaging terrorist elements operating under the cover of darkness.

They added that the military will continue to integrate air and ground operations to sustain pressure on ISWAP and other terrorist groups across the theatre, particularly around strategic routes and known insurgent enclaves.