Islamic State's West Africa Province sustains significant casualties in Malam Fatori, fatalities climb to 75

Military sources have confirmed that the death toll of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters neutralised during a failed attack on Nigerian troops in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, has risen to 75.

n

Initial reports had placed the casualties at 61, following a coordinated response by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, but updated assessments and mop-up operations now indicate that at least 75 insurgents were killed.

n

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, involved ISWAP fighters advancing on foot toward the 68 Battalion location, reportedly deploying armed drones in an attempt to breach defensive lines, with the infiltration launched from the Duguri axis toward the Bravo Company frontage.

n

The infiltration was swiftly detected and repelled, with military sources attributing the success of the operation to superior coordination between air and ground forces, highlighting the growing effectiveness of joint-force strategies in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

n

Four precision air interdiction strikes were conducted on identified terrorist withdrawal routes, degrading their combat capability and forcing a chaotic retreat toward the Arege axis, while allied air assets from the Niger Republic also intervened, carrying out additional strikes on fleeing fighters.

n

Security sources say the combined firepower significantly contributed to the high casualty figures, with several ISWAP fighters escaping with severe injuries, and troops reportedly recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition from the battlefield.

n

The recovery of the arms and ammunition further weakened ISWAP’s operational capacity in the Lake Chad region, and on the side of government forces, a credible military source confirmed that four soldiers sustained minor injuries and have since been stabilised.

n

The successful repulsion of the attack underscores the growing effectiveness of coordinated air-ground operations in countering insurgent threats in Borno and surrounding areas, with the operation marking a significant blow to ISWAP’s capabilities in the region.