The Nigerian Air Force airstrike against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Damboa, Borno State, has resulted in significantly higher casualties than initially reported, with at least 41 terrorists now confirmed dead.

According to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who specializes in the Lake Chad region, ISWAP terrorists evacuated an additional 20 bodies of their fallen fighters under the cover of darkness following the military operation.

Initial reports had indicated that troops of Operation Hadin Kai and the air component of the Nigerian Army had repelled a coordinated attack on Damboa town, killing 16 insurgents in a fierce overnight battle. However, new intelligence suggests the death toll is much higher.

"Credible local and military sources informed that at least 20 additional bodies were evacuated by the terrorists under the cover of darkness," Makama stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

Military intelligence reports indicate that ISWAP leadership based in the Lake Chad axis had directed a recovery mission late Saturday to retrieve the bodies of dead fighters. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the terrorists used push carts and vehicles to hastily remove the corpses from the battlefield.

Security analysts believe this recovery operation was conducted in an attempt to maintain morale within ISWAP ranks and conceal the true extent of their losses from other fighters.

The successful military operation represents a significant blow to ISWAP's operational capabilities in northeastern Nigeria, where the terrorist group has been attempting to establish control following the weakening of Boko Haram in recent years.

The Nigerian military continues its counter-terrorism operations across the region as part of ongoing efforts to restore peace and security to areas affected by insurgency.