ISWAP fighters express apprehension over safety of families after airstrikes in Sambisa

By: Zagazola Makama

Fresh intelligence indicating apprehension among suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters over the condition of their families following recent air operations in Sambisa Forest points to growing internal strain within the group.

Security sources said the concerns emerged after Nigerian Air Force (NAF) components of Operation Hadin Kai conducted precision strikes on insurgent positions in the Sambisa axis of Borno State.

According to the intelligence, a suspected ISWAP fighter identified as Shettima, alongside associates operating around the Limanti axis along the Maiduguri–Mafa road, expressed frustration over delayed and conflicting information regarding the impact of the air operations.

He was said to have lamented that news of the strikes reached him late and questioned the accuracy of information being circulated among fighters regarding the fate of their relatives.

Another associate, identified as Abu Fatima, was quoted in the intelligence as explaining that senior commanders had discouraged the sharing of operational or casualty details with fighters and their families, warning that such disclosures could attract internal sanctions.

He further suggested that during the air operations, fighters reportedly fled from targeted locations while some of their family members, including women and children, were gathered at a separate location.

He said that NAF subsequently struck an accurate hit of fighters, resulting in casualties and injuries.

The sources also indicated that while some affected individuals were receiving treatment within insurgent-held enclaves, others had sustained severe injuries, including amputations, while a number had reportedly been treated and discharged.

Sources say the development reflects increasing psychological pressure within the group, as sustained aerial bombardments continue to disrupt its operational stability and command confidence.

The Military under Operation Hadin Kai has continued to degrade insurgent mobility, logistics and cohesion, forcing fighters to contend not only with battlefield losses but also growing uncertainty over the safety of their families.

They note that beyond physical losses, the insurgents are increasingly grappling with fear, misinformation and distrust, particularly over the fate of relatives caught in conflict zones.

They argue that such pressure may further weaken morale within ISWAP ranks and intensify internal distrust between field fighters and senior commanders, particularly over communication gaps and casualty reporting.

However, while sustained air operations are yielding operational gains, continued pressure on insurgent strongholds will require a combination of air, ground and intelligence-driven coordination to consolidate long-term stability in the North East.

urgent strongholds in Sambisa and surrounding axes, weakening morale and disrupting command confidence.

However, they caution that consolidating gains will require sustained coordination between air and ground components, as well as improved intelligence exploitation to further degrade insurgent recovery capacity in the region.