The Nigerian military said its air component under Operation Hadin Kai carried out a series of intelligence-led precision strikes on terrorist concentrations in Borno State, killing about 36 suspected fighters between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22.
The strikes targeted locations across multiple local government areas after intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions detected movements of suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.
Multiple Operations Across Borno
The first operation took place around Aduwa in Monguno LGA at approximately 10:23 p.m. on August 21. An armed reconnaissance aircraft tracked suspected terrorist vehicles and fighters to a settlement where several had gathered. A precision strike on the larger concentration killed approximately 16 fighters.
The aircraft continued surveillance and detected another group attempting to regroup away from the initial location. A follow-up strike eliminated about 10 more terrorists who had fled and gathered near trees.
In a separate operation around Buratai in Biu LGA, another platform tracked about 12 suspected fighters to a hut. A precision strike at 12:31 a.m. on August 22 achieved a direct hit, killing all 12. The two operations combined accounted for approximately 38 suspected terrorists.
Intensified Campaign Against Insurgents
The strikes form part of ongoing coordinated ground and air operations aimed at dismantling terrorist formations and logistics networks in the northeast. Military authorities said the general security situation remains “calm but unpredictable” while troop morale is “satisfactory.”
Security analyst Zagazola Makama reported that the latest operations demonstrate the growing effectiveness of integrated ISR capabilities in detecting and disrupting terrorist movements. He noted that terrorist groups are increasingly being forced to abandon large gatherings and adopt smaller, concealed movements – a development linked to a reported 250 percent increase in terrorist surrenders over the past month.
The operations come amid intensified counter-insurgency efforts in the Lake Chad basin, where ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to threaten communities across northeastern Nigeria, southeastern Niger, and northern Cameroon despite sustained military pressure.
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