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Tag: Nigerian Air Force

  • Several Feared Dead as Military Airstrike Hits Niger Community During Bandit Operation

    An unconfirmed number of civilians have reportedly been killed following an aerial bombardment on Guradnayi community near Kusasu in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    The military airstrike in Niger State reportedly occurred on Sunday morning during an operation targeting armed bandits believed to have invaded communities in the area.

    Bandits Reportedly Invaded Communities

    Sources said the bandits, said to be over 500 in number, were spotted moving through several communities after allegedly entering from neighbouring Zamfara State and Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.

    Residents of Kuchi, Chibani, Zagzaga and surrounding communities in Munya Local Government Area reportedly fled their homes after noticing the movement of the heavily armed men.

    The exact destination of the bandits was not immediately known at the time of filing this report.

    Civilians Feared Killed During Airstrike

    Community sources confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force reportedly launched an operation targeting the bandits after intelligence gathered their movement around Kusasu community.

    One source said the bandits had spent Saturday night in Kusasu before moving toward Chibani and Zagzaga communities.

    “A swift reaction from the Air Force actually invaded the area and while targeting the bandits in Kusasu on Saturday, some civilians lost their lives but we are yet to ascertain the number of civilians killed,” the source said.

    The source further claimed that several houses were affected during the operation, leading to civilian casualties in the community.

    The reported Niger State airstrike has since sparked concern among residents already dealing with insecurity and repeated bandit attacks.

    Over 500 Bandits Reportedly Spotted

    Another resident alleged that the armed men moved from village to village without abducting anyone but were suspected to be targeting cattle in nearby communities.

    Chairman of Munya Local Government Area, Aminu Najume, also confirmed the invasion, stating that the bandits entered through Chukun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    “The bandits, from what we saw, were over 500 in number and with this development, many people have relocated from their homes for fear of being attacked,” he said.

    He further disclosed that the attackers had already started rustling cows and other livestock in affected communities.

    Security Presence Increased in Affected Areas

    Sources said security operatives have now been deployed to the affected communities following the incident.

    The latest development has also revived conversations around accidental military airstrikes in Shiroro communities, where several civilian deaths have previously been reported during anti-bandit operations.

    In 2022, reports claimed that a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet mistakenly killed six minors in Kurebe village, while another military airstrike months later reportedly left eight civilians dead in the same area.

  • NAF Strikes Terrorist Stronghold in Southern Tumbuns, Eliminates Insurgents

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under Operation Hadin Kai, has destroyed terrorist enclaves in the Southern Tumbuns, eliminating several insurgents during a precision airstrike carried out on April 24, 2026, over Ali Sheriffti.

    The location is described as a known terrorist stronghold, with the operation conducted in the evening hours based on credible intelligence.

    Intelligence-Led Operation

    According to a statement by NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, surveillance missions tracked insurgents moving through concealed routes before they were traced to hidden structures under dense foliage.

    The Air Force then carried out a precision strike after confirming the targets.

    “The operation achieved its objective, destroying the terrorist hideouts and further degrading their operational capability,” the statement said.

    Military Reaffirms Commitment

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the force would continue sustained operations to dismantle terrorist networks.

    He stressed that no safe haven would be allowed for extremist groups, adding that operations would intensify to protect citizens.

    Training Boosts Operational Capacity

    In a related development, the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC) graduated officers from specialised training programmes focused on air campaign planning and intelligence operations.

    At the ceremony, Air Vice Marshal PN Amadi urged participants to apply their knowledge in strengthening field operations, describing them as key assets in ongoing missions.

    The Commandant of AWDC, Air Vice Marshal Garba Jibia, said the training was designed to improve coordination, intelligence integration, and mission effectiveness in modern warfare.

    Push for Operational Excellence

    The NAF said the training aligns with efforts to strengthen operational capacity and adapt to evolving security threats through improved planning and intelligence-driven strategies.

    The latest strike underscores ongoing military operations targeting insurgent hideouts across conflict-prone regions.

     

  • ISWAP Fighters Bury 30 Members After Nigerian Airstrikes Hit Northern Borno Hideouts

    Fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been seen burying dozens of their members following a series of Nigerian Air Force airstrikes that reportedly struck terrorist positions in parts of northern Borno State, in what security sources describe as one of the most intense recent interdiction operations in the region.

    What happened

    The footage, which surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), was shared by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama and appears to show ISWAP operatives conducting mass burial rites after sustaining heavy losses from coordinated air operations carried out under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East theatre.

    The development comes shortly after reports that the Nigerian Air Force carried out precision strikes targeting terrorist hideouts along waterways and forested areas, following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) monitoring of suspected ISWAP movement in the Kaniram Island axis and surrounding locations.

    How the operation unfolded

    Security sources said ISR platforms first detected unusual movement of approximately 31 boats along a riverbank, with activity patterns consistent with armed terrorist logistics operations. After confirmation of the targets, the Air Force reportedly launched precision strikes in line with established engagement protocols.

    The first wave of strikes disrupted the terrorists’ movement network and damaged several boats believed to be used for transportation and supply operations across waterways in the area. According to the account, follow-up surveillance showed attempts by surviving fighters to regroup in nearby vegetation, prompting additional targeted strikes.

    A second round of precision attacks reportedly neutralised about eight fighters, while a third strike hit another group of roughly 15 militants who had taken cover under dense tree cover. Battle Damage Assessment later confirmed significant casualties, with remaining fighters seen dispersing from surrounding hideouts.

    Burial video and battlefield aftermath

    In the video now circulating online, ISWAP members are seen burying what is believed to be about 30 of their fighters in the Mallam Fatori axis, an area frequently linked to insurgent movement and cross-border activity in Borno State.

    Security sources cited by Makama said the burials followed sustained aerial pressure that left the group with heavy operational losses, forcing them to conduct emergency rites for fallen members in the aftermath of the strikes.

    The Nigerian military has continued its air and ground operations across the North-East, targeting insurgent enclaves and supply routes in a bid to weaken their mobility and logistics capacity.

  • NAF “Kills” Terrorists in Sambisa as Fresh Airstrike Destroys Hideouts

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has eliminated several terrorists in a precision airstrike carried out on April 19, 2026, in the Yuwe axis of Sambisa Forest, Borno State, as part of ongoing operations against insurgents in the North-East.

    What happened

    According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, the strike was executed by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI after credible intelligence confirmed the presence of terrorists in fortified structures and bunkers.

    He said the targets were engaged with precision munitions, leading to the destruction of the structures and the neutralisation of multiple fighters.

    Details of the operation

    Ejodame explained that the mission was supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations, which verified terrorist activity in the area before the strike.

    “NAF air assets engaged the targets with precision munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and eliminating key logistics facilities,” he said.

    He added that a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment confirmed the impact of the operation.

    Military speaks on ongoing operations

    The NAF noted that sustained air offensives have continued to weaken terrorist networks in the region, forcing them into more desperate actions.

    “The sustained tempo of air operations continues to degrade terrorist networks, leaving them increasingly exposed and disrupted,” Ejodame stated.

    Also speaking, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to intensifying operations.

    “The Nigerian Air Force will sustain relentless, intelligence-driven air operations until terrorist elements are completely neutralised,” he said.

    Background

    Sambisa Forest has remained a major stronghold for insurgent groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East for years.

    Military operations under Operation HADIN KAI have focused on dismantling these networks through coordinated ground and air offensives.