Mohamed Garba
In a major blow to insurgent operations in the North-East, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced Friday that airstrikes carried out by its personnel under Operation Hadin Kai have killed dozens of Boko Haram fighters and destroyed a key terrorist enclave in Bita, Borno State.
The precision air assault was launched in the early hours of the day, targeting fleeing militants in what the military described as a coordinated and highly successful operation. Bita has long been identified as a notorious hideout for Boko Haram elements, making the strike a strategic victory in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, said the operation was part of a broader push to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and neutralise threats to national security.
“In the early hours of today, NAF combat aircraft carried out precision airstrikes on fleeing terrorists in Bita, Borno State, neutralising scores of insurgents in what has been described as one of the most decisive blows against the group in recent times,” the statement read.
The assault, executed under the cover of darkness, is seen as a significant milestone in the military’s campaign to weaken the operational capabilities of insurgent forces operating in the region. Following the airstrikes, ground forces moved in to clear the area and exploit intelligence gathered from the scene.
Officials say the operation reveals NAF’s growing emphasis on intelligence-driven air missions aimed at minimizing collateral damage while delivering maximum impact on terrorist targets.
“The NAF wishes to reassure Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity and protecting law-abiding citizens,” the statement added. “All necessary measures are being taken to ensure that terrorist elements have no safe haven anywhere within the country.”
This development follows a series of intensified military operations in the North-East, where Boko Haram and its splinter groups have continued to pose security challenges. Analysts say the success of Friday’s airstrike could disrupt planned insurgent movements and logistics in the region.
While casualty figures remain officially unspecified beyond “scores,” sources familiar with the mission suggest that surveillance footage confirmed heavy losses among the insurgents.
Security experts believe continued air dominance and real-time intelligence coordination between air and ground troops will be critical in sustaining pressure on insurgent networks as the military seeks to turn the tide of Nigeria’s prolonged counterinsurgency campaign.