The Nigerian military conducted a successful series of airstrikes targeting Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants in Malam Fatori on December 15, 2024, killing dozens of terrorists, according to intelligence sources.
Malam Fatori, a town near the border with Niger in Nigeria’s Northeastern Borno State, has been a hotspot for ISWAP activity due to its strategic location near Lake Chad, which borders Nigeria, Niger, and Chad. The region is critical for militants moving fighters and supplies.
Sources revealed that a significant gathering of ISWAP militants had been identified in the area. Reconnaissance missions spotted vehicles and motorcycles believed to be used for movement and logistical support by the group.
Military aircraft engaged the targets with precision, destroying vehicles, motorcycles, and other assets. Eyewitness accounts from the area described multiple explosions and thick smoke rising from the impact sites.
“The operation resulted in the deaths of numerous ISWAP militants, with estimates suggesting that the casualty count may be in the dozens,” Zagazola Makama reported. The Nigerian military has not issued an official statement confirming the casualty numbers.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
