By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has conducted coordinated air and ground operations that destroyed Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics networks along the Lake Chad waterways, resulting in the neutralisation of scores of fighters.
The operation, carried out on the night of 21/22 April 2026 around the Kaniram Island axis in northern Borno State, targeted terrorist movement routes and resupply hubs used for waterborne logistics. Military sources said the strikes were based on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance of terrorist activities in the area.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, said Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets first detected a concentration of over 30 terrorist boats being used for coordinated movement and logistics support. He stated that the targets were carefully identified and validated before precision strikes were carried out in accordance with established rules of engagement.
He further explained that the air component of OPHK destroyed several of the boats, severely disrupting the terrorists’ logistics chain and mobility across the waterways. Follow-on strikes on fleeing and regrouping fighters in nearby vegetation led to the neutralisation of over 30 insurgents, with survivors reportedly fleeing in disarray, indicating a breakdown in coordination and command structure.
In a separate operation in the Sambisa Forest axis at Sowolwolo, additional precision-guided strikes destroyed three terrorist gun trucks and eliminated further fighters in the area. Post-strike assessments also indicated heavy enemy losses across multiple locations, including evidence of mass burial activities by ISWAP elements around Mallam Fatori.
Ground forces are currently exploiting the gains of the airstrikes to consolidate control of adjoining areas and prevent regrouping by surviving elements.
Military authorities described the operations as part of sustained pressure aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and restoring stability across the North East, reaffirming that operations will continue until insurgent elements are decisively defeated.
