Nigeria: Troops Intensify Pressure On ISWAP, Arrest 15 Suspects, Neutralise Scores in Northeast

What the report says

Troops under Operation HADIN KAI have stepped up operations against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Nigeria’s northeast, according to a Vanguard report distributed by AllAfrica. The action took place across Borno and Yobe states and, over the previous 24 hours, led to the arrest of 15 suspected collaborators and the reported killing of several militants.

The report says 11 suspects were picked up in Monguno Local Government Area in Borno, including people described as collaborators, couriers or spies, and one suspected terrorist. In Yobe State, troops from the 159 Battalion allegedly detained three people in Geidam during a curfew operation. Investigators reportedly linked them to the purchase of fuel and other supplies for militants operating around the Gorom-Damasak axis.

The military also said its air component carried out a strike near a suspected enclave in the Sambisa area, killing four ISWAP fighters and destroying a building and motorcycle. Other incidents mentioned in the report include the interception of two internally displaced minors in Gwoza, the surrender of a suspected female ISWAP member and her two children in Mafa, and the repelling of separate attacks in Jere and Askira-Uba. Such operations are part of Nigeria’s broader counterinsurgency campaign in the northeast, where ISWAP remains active despite sustained military pressure.