Air Power Strikes Hard! NAF Destroys Terrorist Hideouts In Borno, Thwarts Infiltration

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that its Air Component under Operation Hadin Kai carried out a targeted airstrike on terrorist enclaves in Abirma, Borno State, eliminating several insurgents.

According to the NAF, the operation took place on March 17, 2026, within the southern part of the Lake Chad region.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the strike followed credible intelligence confirming terrorist presence in the area.

He noted that aerial surveillance detected insurgent movements around structures deliberately concealed beneath thick vegetation, a strategy often used to avoid detection.

After confirming the targets and completing all necessary verification procedures, NAF aircraft launched precision strikes on the identified locations.

Ejodame explained that the use of precision-guided munitions led to the destruction of multiple terrorist hideouts and disrupted their operations in the area.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the strike significantly reduced the insurgents’ ability to use the location as a base for launching attacks across the Lake Chad Basin.

In a separate operation, the NAF disclosed that its air assets, working alongside Nigerian Army troops, successfully repelled an attempted infiltration by terrorists in Malam Fatori, located in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attempted breach occurred in the early hours of March 18, 2026.

Ejodame said the joint forces neutralised several terrorists, preventing them from penetrating defensive positions and strengthening security efforts in border communities.

The Air Force emphasised that the operations underscore its reliance on intelligence-led air power in tackling insurgency in the North-East.

He also quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, as reaffirming the military’s commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring national security.

According to him, the NAF will continue sustained operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks while strictly adhering to established rules of engagement and international standards for civilian protection.