The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations nationwide, launching coordinated precision airstrikes across six northern states — Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kwara — resulting in the destruction of terrorist camps and the neutralisation of several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the latest aerial offensives marked a decisive phase in joint operations under Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Fanjan Yamma, aimed at dismantling terrorist and criminal networks across the northern region.
He said:
“In Borno State, NAF air interdiction missions dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists entrenched in the northern Tumbuns. Guided by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) feeds, air assets conducted precision strikes southeast of Shuwaram before shifting to Mallam Fatori, where ISWAP elements were observed mobilising with motorcycles and boats along the Lake Chad Basin.”
Ejodame added that the strikes destroyed insurgent hideouts, logistics hubs, and weapons storage facilities, eliminating several terrorists and crippling their mobility capabilities. Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple neutralisations and significant degradation of ISWAP’s operational network in the area.
He further disclosed that simultaneous air interdiction missions were conducted in Kwara State, where NAF aircraft struck bandit camps in Garin Dandi and Chigogo with “devastating accuracy,” following credible intelligence reports.
“The attacks caused panic and inflicted heavy losses among the criminals,” he said.
In another coordinated operation under Operation Fanjan Yamma, NAF air assets targeted Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, believed to be the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin and his fighters.
According to the statement, multiple attack passes were executed, destroying key logistics hubs and neutralising several terrorists in one of the most decisive strikes recorded in the region.
Ejodame explained that sustained aerial missions were also conducted across the north-west corridor, covering settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States — including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello — identified as hideouts and routes for armed groups along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.
“During the mission, coordination with Forward Operating Bases at Dankolo and Kotonkoro revealed suspicious movement near Wam Hill, where terrorists on motorcycles were spotted attempting to flee. The aircrew swiftly engaged and neutralised the targets, with no further hostile activity observed,” Ejodame said.
He emphasised that the success of these precision operations underscored NAF’s renewed operational tempo in line with the directives of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to sustain intelligence-led and targeted strikes against insurgents.
“Each mission reaffirms NAF’s resolve to employ smarter, intelligence-driven air power to deliver purposeful lethality against insurgents and criminals, while protecting the lives and property of citizens in the pursuit of enhanced national security,” he added.
