The Nigerian Air Force eliminated at least 36 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in a series of precision airstrikes across Borno State between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, the military task force said.
Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, said air platforms carried out intelligence-led strikes targeting terrorist concentrations in multiple locations across the state. The operations followed days of surveillance that identified movements and groupings of suspected insurgents.
Strikes Hit Monguno and Biu LGAs
An armed reconnaissance aircraft first detected suspected terrorists around the Aduwa axis in Monguno Local Government Area before identifying a larger group gathered within a settlement. “Following appropriate operational procedures and authorisation, a precision strike was conducted against the identified target,” Goni said in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
A second set of strikes targeted positions in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area, where additional intelligence confirmed the presence of terrorist fighters and logistics infrastructure. Multiple passes by attack aircraft were conducted until the targets were neutralised, according to the military statement.
The operation formed part of an ongoing air campaign to degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and deny insurgents freedom of action across the northeast theatre. Both Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements were targeted in the strikes.
Escalating Air Campaign
Nigeria’s Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has intensified precision operations in recent months, employing A-29 Super Tucano jets and advanced surveillance platforms for 24-hour target tracking. The military says the upgraded fleet and night-strike capabilities have crippled terrorist mobility and destroyed hundreds of technical vehicles and logistics hubs in hostile territory.
The strikes came as the broader security situation in northeast Nigeria remains volatile, with insurgent groups continuing to carry out attacks despite sustained military pressure. Nigeria’s defence ministry has pledged to sustain offensive operations until lasting peace and security are restored in the region.
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