By Abdullahi Musa
Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has said its Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria at the weekend delivered a crushing blow to ISWAP terrorists, neutralizing scores of them and obliterating their strategic hideouts in the Southern Tumbuns, along the Lake Chad shores, Borno State.
The successful strike according to the NAF, marks a major leap forward in Nigeria’s relentless counter-terrorism campaign, significantly weakening the enemy’s stronghold.
A statement at the weekend by NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa noted that the air strikes were launched after credible intelligence revealed a mass movement of ISWAP fighters from the Lake Chad Basin to the Southern Tumbuns, gearing up for coordinated assaults in the area.
The NAF said further “intel pinpointed high-value ISWAP commanders and clusters of militants hidden under thick vegetation at Arina Woje, triggering a series of powerful, precision air raids”.
“During the mission, NAF fighter jets unleashed a torrent of bombs and cannon fire, delivering a devastating and pinpoint assault on terrorist hideouts. Swift mop-up strikes followed, wiping out fleeing insurgents and ensuring total elimination of the threat.
“A previous airstrike on October 30, 2024, at Arina Woje had already dealt a critical blow to ISWAP, neutralizing around 50 terrorists, including a commander known as Qaid Bashir Dauda. This accomplishment represents a significant stride in the AFN’s unwavering counter-terrorism campaign, dealing a powerful blow to enemy strongholds.
“Utilizing advanced ISR capabilities and precision strikes, the AFN remains steadfast in tackling the ever-evolving threat posed by ISWAP and other terrorist factions. The NAF will persist in delivering powerful air support through both independent and joint operations to eliminate all threats undermining Nigeria’s peace and security,” the NAF statement read.