Nigerian Army Gains Ground Against Insurgents in North-East, Neutralizes Key Leaders
The Nigerian Army, under its Operation Hadin Kai initiative, has made significant strides in the fight against insurgency in the North-East region, targeting key leaders and strongholds of militant groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram. Maj.-Gen. Abulsalam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of the North East Joint Task Force, provided updates on these operations during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Friday.
Abubakar emphasized that despite recent attacks and losses, Nigerian troops have intensified their efforts, gradually reshaping the conflict dynamics across the region. Through coordinated ground and air operations, the military has succeeded in dismantling insurgent command structures, disrupting logistics networks, and restricting terrorist movements in critical areas of Borno State.
One of the most notable achievements highlighted by Abubakar was the elimination of Modu Kundiri, a top ISWAP commander and the Qa’id of the Pulka axis in Gwoza Local Government Area. Kundiri was neutralized during a ground operation along the Madagali-Gwoza axis, a strategic route connecting the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains. His death has reportedly caused leadership uncertainty within ISWAP, destabilizing their command and control systems.
In another major breakthrough, troops eliminated Malam Bako Gorgore, also known as Abou Mustapha, a senior member of ISWAP’s Shura Council. Gorgore was responsible for high-level operational planning, recruitment, and ideological direction within the group. He was killed in Kukawa Local Government Area, further weakening the insurgents’ organizational capabilities.
The Nigerian Air Force has played a pivotal role in these successes, conducting intelligence-led missions that have destroyed command centers, logistics hubs, and clusters of insurgents in the Sambisa Forest. Precision airstrikes have also intercepted and eliminated fleeing fighters along withdrawal routes.
In one of the most significant engagements in recent weeks, Nigerian troops repelled a major assault by ISWAP elements on a military formation in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area. The insurgents deployed advanced tactics, including armed drones, but were met with coordinated ground fire and precision airstrikes. The operation resulted in the deaths of 84 ISWAP terrorists, including senior commanders, and the recovery of weapons and explosives.
Abubakar also noted that internal conflicts within ISWAP have further compounded their losses. In recent months, Abu Kasim was reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device planted by rival factions, while Abu Nazir was eliminated during internal purges linked to disputes within the group.
Despite the fluid security situation, Abubakar expressed confidence in the military’s progress. He stated that the sustained targeting of insurgent leadership, combined with precision airstrikes and improved battlefield coordination, has significantly reduced the operational capacity of militant groups in the region.
“Our troops continue to hold ground, repel incursions, and extend operations deeper into the terrorists’ enclaves in Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, and along the Lake Chad shores,” Abubakar said. “These are not random strikes but targeted operations aimed at dismantling the operational backbone of insurgency.”
As the Nigerian military continues its efforts to stabilize the North-East, the elimination of key insurgent leaders and the disruption of their networks mark a turning point in the protracted conflict.
— Reported by Nexio News
