Over 40 Terrorists K!lled As NAF Unleashes Airstrikes In Borno

According to Ireporter Online, the Nigerian Air Force has neutralised more than 40 terrorists during coordinated close air support and air interdiction missions conducted in Azir and Musarram communities of Borno State.

The operations, executed by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, were aimed at disrupting imminent terrorist attacks while supporting ongoing ground offensives in the region. The missions were carried out on January 15 and 16 following credible intelligence and in close collaboration with troops already engaged with hostile elements.

Air Force authorities disclosed that in the early hours of January 16, NAF aircraft swiftly responded to a distress call from ground forces confronting fleeing terrorists in Azir. Subsequent aerial surveillance identified attempts by the insurgents to regroup under surrounding vegetation, leading to a series of precision airstrikes that effectively neutralised the threat.

Post-operation assessments indicated the absence of further security risks, while reports from troops, local authorities, and community sources confirmed a significant reduction in terrorist activity and the restoration of relative calm in the area.

The previous day, January 15, NAF air assets also carried out a successful air interdiction mission in Musarram, located within the Tumbuns axis. Intelligence had revealed that terrorists were assembling on canoes in preparation for attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam corridor. Upon arrival, the aircraft identified multiple canoes and dozens of suspected terrorists, engaging them in successive strikes that scattered the group and dismantled their operational formation.

Reacting to the operations, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to delivering timely and decisive air support to ground forces in the fight against terrorism. He stated that the success of the missions highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-led air power and strong air-ground coordination in restricting terrorist movements.

Aneke further assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would continue sustained operations against terrorist groups until their capabilities are significantly degraded and affected communities are stabilised, reiterating the military’s resolve to protect lives and restore peace across the North-East and the country at large.