The air component of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai has eliminated 27 terrorists during separate air interdiction operations targeting insurgent hideouts in the Southern and Northern Tumbus areas of Borno State.
According to an operational report from the Nigerian Air Force obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, the missions were carried out after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations identified terrorist activities in the affected locations.
The report stated that air assets, including Dragon and ISR platforms, launched a strike on Dawoshe, a known terrorist stronghold in the Southern Tumbus area, at about 12:40 a.m. on June 10.
During aerial surveillance, suspected terrorist vehicles were detected and subsequently targeted by the aircraft.
“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the vehicles were destroyed, while 12 terrorists were neutralised during the operation.”
The report also disclosed that a second precision strike was conducted on terrorist positions in Metele, located in the Northern Tumbus area of Guzamala Local Government Area on the same day.
According to the report, “post-strike assessments, supported by BDA and Human Intelligence (HUMINT), confirmed that 15 terrorists were neutralised during the operation.”
The military said the successful missions dealt a major setback to terrorist groups operating around the Lake Chad region and the Tumbus hideouts.
It noted that the operations are part of ongoing efforts to weaken terrorist capabilities, disrupt supply networks, and restrict insurgents’ movement across the North-East.
Overall, the two air operations resulted in the neutralisation of 27 terrorists during the period under review.
The report reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to maintaining offensive operations against terrorist strongholds until peace and security are fully restored in the region.
