More than 25 terrorists have been killed in a decisive air assault conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the volatile North-East. The operation targeted insurgent hideouts around Bula in Yobe State and the Banki axis of Borno State, an area frequently terrorised by armed groups.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF’s spokesperson, announced in Abuja on Saturday that the coordinated strikes took place on September 18 following intelligence shared by ground troops engaged in surveillance of the region.
Ejodame explained that a fleet of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets and fighter aircraft trailed terrorist groups moving north of Banki. Real-time updates were continuously relayed to ground forces, allowing for synchronised operations.
“The strike aircraft engaged the terrorists in three successive precision strikes on their movement routes and assembly areas, effectively neutralising more than 25 fighters,” Ejodame said.
He confirmed that surveillance missions after the bombardments showed ground troops remained firmly in defensive positions, with no fresh threats emerging.
The air force highlighted that the successful mission underscored its unrelenting support for ground operations and its resolve to weaken the operational capacity of insurgents.
This operation follows a deadly Boko Haram raid on Darajamal village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, where at least 63 persons, including five soldiers, were killed. The attackers, arriving on motorcycles, left behind a trail of destruction before security reinforcements arrived.