A video circulating online has reportedly shown fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) burying dozens of their members following recent airstrikes by the Nigerian military in northern Borno State.
The footage was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited security sources as saying the casualties resulted from a series of coordinated air operations targeting terrorist movements in the region.
According to earlier reports, the Nigerian Air Force carried out precision strikes after intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions identified suspicious activity along waterways near the Kaniram Island area. The surveillance reportedly spotted multiple boats—about 31 in total—along a riverbank, with movements consistent with ISWAP fighters.
Following confirmation, air assets were deployed in line with operational guidelines. The first strike was said to have hit a key تجمع point, damaging several boats believed to be used for logistics and movement across the waterways.
Subsequent monitoring indicated that some fighters attempted to regroup in nearby vegetation, prompting additional strikes. A second operation targeted a smaller cluster of militants, while a third strike reportedly hit another group taking cover under trees.
Security sources quoted by Makama said the coordinated strikes led to significant losses, forcing surviving fighters to scatter from their positions.
In the aftermath, the insurgents were said to have conducted mass burials in the Mallam Fatori axis, reflecting the scale of the casualties sustained during the operation carried out under Operation HADIN KAI.
While the military has yet to issue a detailed official statement on the specific burial claims, the development highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian forces to disrupt insurgent activities in the Northeast.
