Troops Kill High-Profile ISWAP Shura Council Member, Fighters In Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have killed a high-profile member of the group’s Shura Council and Abul Walid, Abu Hajara, who is also a prominent commander and close associate of Ba Shuwa, the overall Wali of ISWAP and two high-ranking Arab fighters during an encounter in Kukawa, Borno State.

A statement by the acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops on 31 October 2026 dealt a significant blow to the leadership and operational capability of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during attacks on military locations at Kukawa.

He said the troops killed “several terrorists including Abu Hajara, a high-profile member of the group’s Shura Council and Abul Walid, a prominent commander and close associate of Ba Shuwa, the overall Wali of ISWAP and two high-ranking Arab fighters during an engagement in Kukawa, Borno State, on 31 October 2026,”.

According to him, the combined troops of the Joint Task Force deployed at Kukawa, utilising both ground and air assets, defeated a massive ISWAP terrorist attack on their locations.

He said troops during the engagement recovered scores of arms, ammunition and communication devices.

The statement noted that the successful encounter further demonstrates the combat readiness, vigilance and superior firepower of Operation HADIN KAI troops in sustaining pressure on terrorist elements across the theatre.

The attack on troops’ location at Kukawa comes barely three days after the Buni Yadi attack, whereas today “55 terrorists were neutralised, including key commanders such as Ali Mandara Abba Gajiri (Munzir), Habu Ikkima Nakif Yana Faruk and Commander Gogore,” he added.

The Theatre Command has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to protect law-abiding citizens and continue its operations to ensure total annihilation of the terrorists and destruction of their camps within the region.