The Nigerian Air Force has announced that it killed more than 15 terrorists in an airstrike on a hideout within the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.
In a statement on Thursday, its spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the strike was conducted on September 3, 2025, by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
According to him, the air raid targeted an enclave west of Zuwa, identified through intelligence and surveillance as a hideout for fighters and commanders linked to recent attacks around Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Ejodame noted that the strike destroyed structures used by the insurgents and further weakened their operational capacity.
“The Nigerian Air Force, through the Air Component under the Joint Task Force North-East of Operation Hadin Kai, has once again demonstrated its precision, reach, and resolve in the fight against terrorism.
On 3 September 2025, a carefully planned and executed air interdiction mission struck a newly identified terrorist enclave west of Zuwa in the Sambisa general area.
“Acting on credible intelligence and confirmatory surveillance, the mission targeted hideouts harbouring fighters and commanders responsible for recent hostilities around Bitta. The strikes proved devastating, neutralising over 15 terrorists and demolishing key structures critical to their operations.
“The Nigerian Air Force continues to stand as a symbol of vigilance, professionalism, and decisive airpower in defence of national security. Every successful strike brings Nigeria one step closer to lasting peace”, the statement read.
The Sambisa Forest, a vast stretch in the North-East, has been a long-time stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters since the insurgency began in 2009.
Over the years, the Nigerian military has conducted several operations in the forest in efforts to weaken the insurgents’ presence.
The latest operation comes as counterterrorism campaigns intensify in the North-East, where insurgency and banditry continue to displace millions and disrupt livelihoods.