Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralized a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander and several other fighters in the Babangida-Dapchi axis of Yobe state. The operation, which involved coordinated ground and aerial assaults, took place along the 130-kilometre Damaturu/Bayamari road.
Elimination of Abu Jarir
According to credible military sources in Damaturu, the eliminated commander, identified as Abu Jarir, was a member of the ISWAP Shura council. His death occurred on 22nd April 2026 at about 6:12 p.m., following an intelligence-led operation by ground troops in the Babangida general area. A military source confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that the operation was based on precise intelligence reports.
Impact on Terrorist Leadership
Security sources described the neutralization of Abu Jarir as a significant blow to the ISWAP leadership structure in the Lake Chad region, which includes Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria. The loss of a Shura council member disrupts the group's command and control capabilities.
Further reports indicate that the overall ISWAP commander in the Lake Chad region, known as Ba Shuwa, dispatched a search and rescue team to recover Abu Jarir's body on the same day of the operation. The ISWAP search party, consisting of about a dozen motorcycles, was sighted moving in the Aljanna Jaule area of Yobe state.
Ongoing Operations
Military forces continue to exploit the success of the operation, conducting further clearance operations in the Babangida-Dapchi axis and the Sasawa Forest of Yobe state. Additional details on the counter-terrorism efforts are expected as troops maintain pressure on terrorist hideouts in the region.
