Nigerian troops have recorded a major counter-insurgency success after killing two senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province and 84 fighters in a carefully executed decoy ambush operation in the Malam Fatori axis of Borno State.

The operation, described by military sources as a strategic breakthrough, came barely a day after multiple suicide bombings in Maiduguri during Ramadan fast-breaking.

According to intelligence sources, the operation was driven by credible information obtained from international technical partners, which revealed the movement of ISWAP fighters towards a strategic target in the area.

Rather than adopt a conventional defensive approach, commanders deployed a deception tactic—deliberately creating the impression of vulnerability to lure the insurgents into a pre-determined kill zone.

Ground troops were concealed at strategic positions, while air assets remained on standby, tracking confirmed coordinates. Once the terrorists entered the designated zone, precision airstrikes were launched, followed by coordinated ground assaults.

Military sources said the operation effectively trapped the insurgents, leading to heavy casualties. “The terrorists were fully drawn into the ambush and overwhelmed by combined air and ground firepower,” a source disclosed.

Troops of the 68 Battalion were said to have played a key role in repelling the attempted infiltration and executing follow-up clearance operations.

Among those killed were two top ISWAP commanders identified as Abu Aisha, also known as Nagif, and Abu Ali Chaptar, alias Gunner Sambisa. Their deaths were confirmed after their bodies were recovered by allied forces at a forward operating base.

Further strikes were carried out on fleeing insurgents in surrounding areas, with additional casualties recorded during coordinated mortar fire and air interdiction along escape routes.

Troops subsequently launched aggressive pursuit operations, engaging retreating fighters and conducting mop-up exercises to eliminate survivors.

Security sources confirmed that four soldiers sustained minor injuries during the operation.

A large cache of weapons and logistics materials was recovered, including rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, communication radios, and documents containing details of suspected operatives.

Military authorities say the success highlights the increasing role of intelligence-led operations, joint coordination, and precision strikes in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North-East.