No fewer than 40 terrorists have been neutralised by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) during coordinated air operations in Borno State, disrupting planned attacks and supporting ongoing ground operations.
In a statement on Sunday, NAF spokesperson, Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the close-air support and air interdiction missions were conducted on January 15 and 16 by the air component of Operation HADIN KAI, based on credible intelligence and in close coordination with troops on the ground.
He said NAF aircraft responded in the early hours of January 16 to a distress call from troops engaged with terrorists withdrawing from the Azir area. Further aerial surveillance revealed the fighters attempting to regroup under nearby tree cover, prompting precise air strikes that neutralised several of them.
According to Ejodame, post-strike assessments confirmed no further threats, while feedback from ground forces, local authorities and community sources indicated a significant reduction in terrorist activity and a return of relative calm.
Earlier on January 15, NAF air assets also carried out a successful air interdiction at Musarram in the Tumbuns general area after intelligence reports showed terrorists assembling on canoes to launch attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis.
The aircraft sighted about 10 canoes carrying over 40 suspected terrorists and engaged them in multiple attack passes. Some fleeing elements were trailed and neutralised, while others who regrouped at an assembly point were also engaged, effectively dismantling the terrorist concentration.
Reacting, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to providing timely and decisive air support to ground forces, assuring Nigerians of sustained pressure on terrorist elements as efforts continue to stabilise affected areas.
About the Author
