The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed the elimination of more than 25 terrorists in a coordinated night air assault targeting insurgent hideouts in Bula Yobe (Yobe State) and the Banki axis (Borno State).
The strike, executed on Wednesday, September 18, 2025, was based on credible intelligence from ground forces and surveillance teams. The successful mission marks another major blow to terrorist elements operating in Nigeria’s North-East.
In a statement released Saturday in Abuja, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF, revealed that the operation was carried out by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
“Acting on actionable intelligence from ground troops, a force package comprising Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and strike aircraft tracked multiple clusters of terrorists north of Banki,” the statement read.
According to the Air Force, ISR units established early contact with ground forces and provided real-time tracking of terrorist movements. This enabled air assets to engage enemy positions with three separate precision strikes, targeting known movement routes and assembly points.
Post-strike assessments confirmed that more than 25 terrorists were neutralized, while ground forces remained in defensive positions with no further threats reported in the area.
Air Commodore Gabkwet emphasized that the operation demonstrates NAF’s critical role in supporting joint operations and its resolve to deny terrorist groups the freedom to operate or regroup.
“This successful operation underscores our commitment to working in synergy with ground forces, ensuring that terrorists have no safe haven. We remain resolute in restoring peace to the North-East,” Gabkwet said.
Background: ISWAP Commanders Killed Days Earlier
The latest air raid follows another recent success by Nigerian troops in the Lake Chad region, where three top commanders of ISWAP were eliminated during a foiled ambush in Cross-Kauwa.
The commanders were identified as:
- Modu Dogo Munzir (of Dogon Chukun),
- Abu Aisha, Qaid of Tumbun Mota,
- An unidentified Munzir.
Eight additional terrorists were also killed during the operation, which came just a day after they attempted to detonate a command-operated IED.
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