The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out a series of precision airstrikes that destroyed terrorist hideouts and killed scores of insurgents in Borno State.
The operation, conducted under Operation Hadin Kai, targeted Abirma, an identified insurgent enclave in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region, on March 17, 2026.
NAF spokesperson, Ehimen Ejodame, said the mission followed credible intelligence, surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), which confirmed the presence of terrorist fighters in the area.
Aerial surveillance revealed movements around structures concealed under dense vegetation, a tactic commonly used by insurgents to evade detection.
“After positive identification and verification, NAF air assets engaged the targets with precision munitions, destroying multiple structures and disrupting terrorist activities in the enclave,” Ejodame said.
He added that preliminary Battle Damage Assessment indicated that the strikes significantly weakened the terrorists’ ability to use the location as a staging ground for attacks across the Lake Chad Basin.
In a related operation, NAF air assets, working closely with Nigerian Army troops, foiled an infiltration attempt at Malam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area in the early hours of March 18.
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Several terrorists were neutralised during the joint response, preventing the insurgents from breaching defensive positions and reinforcing efforts to secure border communities.
NAF said the operations highlight its continued reliance on intelligence-led air power to dismantle terrorist networks and support ground forces in restoring stability in the North-East.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reassured Nigerians of sustained air operations across multiple theatres, aimed at protecting lives, safeguarding communities, and denying criminal elements freedom of action.
He emphasised that all missions are conducted professionally, with strict adherence to rules of engagement and global standards on civilian harm mitigation.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
