The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has neutralised more than 40 terrorists during coordinated close air support and air interdiction operations at Azir and Musarram communities in Borno State.
The operations, which disrupted planned terrorist attacks and reinforced ongoing ground offensives, were carried out by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
Naijaonpoint reports that this was disclosed in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
Ejodame said the air operations were conducted on January 15 and 16, following credible and actionable intelligence and in close coordination with ground troops already in contact with terrorists.
According to him, NAF aircraft swiftly responded in the early hours of January 16 to a distress call from troops engaged with fleeing terrorists at Azir. He explained that further aerial scans revealed terrorist elements attempting to regroup under nearby tree cover, prompting precise and successive air strikes.
“Post-strike assessment confirmed no further threats, while feedback from ground troops, local authorities and community sources indicated a significant degradation of terrorist presence and a return of relative calm,” Ejodame said.
The NAF spokesman disclosed that a day earlier, on January 15, air assets carried out a successful air interdiction mission at Musarram in the Tumbuns general area.
He said intelligence reports had revealed that terrorists were assembling on canoes in preparation for attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis.
“On arrival, the aircraft sighted about 10 canoes and over 40 suspected terrorists, who were engaged in multiple passes, throwing them into disarray.
“Some fleeing elements were trailed and neutralised, while others who regrouped at an assembly area were also engaged, effectively dismantling the terrorist concentration,” he added.
Reacting to the operations, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to providing timely and decisive air support to ground forces in the fight against terrorism.
Aneke said the successful missions demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-driven air power and close air–ground coordination in denying terrorists freedom of movement.
He assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would sustain pressure on terrorist elements until their operational capabilities are degraded and affected areas stabilised.
According to him, the military remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives, restore peace and secure communities in the North-East and across the country.