The Nigerian Air Force has killed more than 40 suspected terrorists during coordinated aerial operations in parts of Borno State, the military authorities said on Sunday.
The strikes were carried out on January 15 and 16 in Azir and Musarram communities, both within Damboa Local Government Area, as part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts under Operation HADIN KAI.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the missions were intelligence-driven and executed in close support of troops on the ground.
“NAF air assets responded swiftly to distress calls from our troops who were in contact with terrorists attempting to withdraw from Azir,” Ejodame said.
“Further surveillance revealed the fighters trying to regroup under nearby tree cover, and they were engaged in successive, precision airstrikes,” he added.
According to him, post-operation assessments from ground forces and community sources indicated that the terrorist presence in the area had been significantly weakened, leading to a restoration of relative calm.
Ejodame also disclosed that a separate interdiction mission was conducted in Musarram after intelligence reports showed terrorists assembling on canoes to launch attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis.
“Our aircraft sighted about 10 canoes carrying over 40 suspected terrorists. Multiple attack passes were carried out, throwing the group into disarray,” he said.
“Some fleeing elements were tracked and neutralised, while others who attempted to regroup were also engaged and dismantled.”
Reacting to the development, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the operation as a demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-led air power.
“These operations underscore our commitment to providing timely and decisive air support to ground forces in order to deny terrorists freedom of action,” Aneke said.
He assured Nigerians that the Air Force would sustain pressure on insurgent groups until affected communities are stabilised.
Azir and Musarram have remained flashpoints of insurgency linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province with repeated attacks on both civilians and security personnel in recent years.
