The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that it has intensified its counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations nationwide, conducting a series of precision airstrikes across six northern states: Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kwara.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, stated in a statement that the latest aerial onslaught neutralised Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram, Borno State, and destroyed bandit enclaves in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, Kwara State, as well as Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He stressed that the coordinated missions, executed on 9 November 2025, represent a decisive phase in ongoing joint operations under Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Fanjan Yamma, aimed at degrading terrorist and criminal networks across Nigeria’s northern theatres.
Air Commodore Ejodame 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. 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 networks in the area.
“Simultaneously, NAF aircraft carried out precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, striking bandit camps with devastating accuracy based on credible intelligence. The attacks caused panic and inflicted heavy losses among the criminals.
“In a related operation, air assets under Operation Fanjan Yamma struck Zango Hill in Kankara LGA, Katsina State — the hideout of a terrorist kingpin and his fighters.”
The NAF spokesperson further explained that, guided by actionable intelligence and ISR surveillance, multiple attack passes were executed, destroying key logistics hubs and neutralising several terrorists in one of the most decisive strikes in the region.
“Demonstrating sustained reach and precision, the Air Component of Operation Fanjan Yamma (Sector 1) conducted an armed reconnaissance mission across the north-west corridor, covering key settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States — including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello. These locations serve as known routes and hideouts 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,” he said.
Air Commodore Ejodame stressed that the success of these precision operations across Borno, Kwara, Katsina, and the wider north-western corridor underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s renewed tempo, following the directives of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.
He added that 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.
Linus Aleke
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