An estimated 15 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists have been killed by a Nigerian military drone strike during an intelligence-led operation in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the operation in a post shared via his X handle.
Makama said, the airstrike was carried out at about 5:35 a.m. on Monday, July 21, after credible intelligence indicated the presence of suspected terrorists around KLA Balia in Marte LGA.
“Following positive identification, the drone carried out a precision strike, killing the five visible suspects and triggering secondary explosions that intelligence sources estimated resulted in the deaths of about 15 insurgents.
“Intelligence sources, said an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, platform, codenamed Guardian, was deployed over the area and identified three vehicles concealed at separate hideouts,” Makama said.
He added that surveillance revealed several structures nearby, where five suspected terrorists were observed taking cover under a tree.
The security analyst stated that, following a battle-damage assessment, the ISR platform detected the three concealed vehicles and attempted a follow-up precision strike to destroy them.
However, the second strike was unsuccessful due to a malfunction in the laser targeting system, which prevented accurate target designation.
Despite the technical setback, military sources described the operation as a significant success, saying it inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorist group and disrupted its activities in the area.
According to the sources, surveillance and intelligence monitoring of the location are ongoing, while additional operations may be conducted to target surviving terrorists and destroy the remaining vehicles.
The operation forms part of the ongoing air interdiction campaign by Operation HADIN KAI aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves, disrupting logistics and eliminating insurgent leadership across the Lake Chad region and the wider North-East.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
Latest posts by Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent) (see all)
- Security Operatives Foil Terrorist Attack In Adamawa - July 25, 2026
- Lagos State Government Seals Over 20 Properties In Ikeja - July 25, 2026
- Military Drones Neutralizes 15 Suspected ISWAP Terrorists In Borno - July 25, 2026
previous
PEPSA trains Over 70 Sanitation Law Enforcement, Court Procedures
next