The Nigerian Air Force has killed more than 40 terrorists in air operations at Azir and Musarram areas of Borno State. The strikes disrupted planned attacks and supported ongoing ground operations in the North-East.
Spokesperson for the Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said in a statement on Sunday that the missions were carried out on January 15 and 16 by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai. He explained that the operations followed actionable intelligence and close coordination with troops on the ground.
Ejodame said aircraft were deployed to Azir in the early hours of January 16 after a distress report that troops were in contact with terrorists withdrawing from the area. Surveillance later showed the terrorists trying to regroup under nearby trees, leading to precise and repeated airstrikes that killed many of them.
He added that a post-strike assessment showed no further immediate threat in the area. According to him, feedback from troops, local leaders and community sources indicated that terrorist presence had been significantly weakened and calm was returning.
Ejodame also said that on January 15, NAF aircraft carried out an air interdiction mission at Musarram in the Tumbuns general area after intelligence revealed terrorists assembling in canoes to launch attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis. The aircraft sighted about 10 canoes and more than 40 suspected terrorists, who were then engaged in multiple attack runs.
Some of the fleeing fighters were tracked and killed, while others who regrouped at an assembly point were also targeted, breaking up their formation. The operation destroyed the terrorist concentration and disrupted their plans to attack nearby locations.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, praised the troops and restated the Air Force’s commitment to provide timely support to ground forces. He said the missions showed the value of intelligence-led air power and close coordination between air and land components in denying terrorists freedom of movement.
Aneke assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would maintain pressure on terrorist groups to reduce their strength and stabilise affected communities.
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