Fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have buried dozens of their members following recent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes in northern Borno State, as counter-insurgency operations intensify in the Lake Chad region.
Security sources said the burials took place in the Mallam Fatori axis after precision strikes conducted under Operation Hadin Kai.
The operation was triggered by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) that tracked insurgent movement along waterways near the Kaniram Island area, where more than 30 boats were observed along a riverbank, indicating coordinated logistics and fighter mobilisation.
Air Force assets subsequently carried out multiple strikes, first destroying several of the boats used for transport and supply, before targeting fighters attempting to withdraw into surrounding vegetation.
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Battle damage assessments showed that more than 30 ISWAP fighters were killed, while others escaped into nearby hideouts.
Post-strike intelligence, including aerial imagery and intercepted visuals, later confirmed that ISWAP members conducted mass burials in the Mallam Fatori area, underscoring the scale of losses.
Additional strikes were also executed in nearby Sowolwolo, where another group of insurgents was engaged and neutralised.
Military sources said the sustained air campaign has degraded ISWAP’s mobility and coordination across the Lake Chad basin, limiting its ability to move fighters and logistics through riverine routes.
Operation Hadin Kai remains the military’s ongoing offensive in the North-East, targeting Boko Haram and ISWAP strongholds across Borno and neighboring areas, with authorities vowing to sustain pressure on insurgent groups.