The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its relentless air operations leading to the neutralisation of scores of terrorists in Borno and Katsina states.
Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain, Kabiru Ali, in a statement issued Friday said a series of decisive and precision-guided air interdiction missions between 17 and 19 March 2025, NAF aircraft obliterated fortified hideouts in Chiralia, Grazah, Yuwe, and Zango Hill, eliminating numerous fighters and crippling their operational networks.
He revealed that on 17 March 2025, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) launched a devastating airstrike on Chiralia, a notorious terrorist enclave within the Timbuktu Triangle.
Ali noted: “Intelligence reports revealed that the insurgents had been orchestrating violent raids along the Maiduguri-Damaturu and Damaturu-Biu highways, abducting civilians and plundering supplies.
“In response, a formidable force package of NAF attack aircraft unleashed a precise and overwhelming assault, obliterating multiple enemy structures and eliminating terrorists desperately attempting to escape with follow-up strikes.”
Ali added that the following day, NAF launched a devastating air interdiction operation at Grazah, a well-fortified terrorist hideout in the treacherous Mandara Mountains, and at Yuwe, a notorious insurgent stronghold in Sambisa Forest along the volatile Damboa-Bitta highway.
He said at Grazah, intelligence reports exposed extremist leaders indoctrinating fighters, reinforcing the urgency of the strike.
Ali added: “In a ferocious assault, NAF fighter jets unleashed a relentless barrage of precision strikes on key targets advancing purposeful lethality.
“Follow-up strikes intensified the offensive, obliterating fleeing terrorists at both locations and delivering a crushing blow to their operational networks.”
Also, in the North-West region, Ali noted that the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) executed a relentless aerial assault in Zango Hill, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, in close coordination with ground forces.
He stressed that ISR missions uncovered armed bandits entrenched in the rugged high ground, triggering the swift deployment of NAF attack aircraft.
Ali said the precision strikes pounded enemy positions, while follow-up bombardments targeted regrouping fighters attempting to evade destruction.
He explained that NAF helicopters delivered decisive Close Air Support, raining fire on bandits engaging friendly forces, ensuring the unimpeded advance of ground troops.
Also noted that the operation annihilated multiple armed criminals and obliterated their fortified hideouts, further crippling their operational foothold.
He said intelligence assessments indicate that the strikes not only neutralised several high-value targets but also destroyed critical infrastructure used by the terrorists for logistics and coordination.