By Abdullahi InuwaÂ
Air operations under Operation HADIN KAI have dealt a major blow to terrorist groups in Borno State, with about 38 suspected fighters reportedly eliminated in a series of precision airstrikes.
The coordinated attacks were conducted between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026, following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions that detected movements of suspected terrorists at different locations.
The first engagement occurred around Aduwa at about 10:23 p.m. on August 21. An armed reconnaissance platform monitoring the area received intelligence indicating the presence of terrorist fighters and vehicles.
After tracking the movement, the aircraft identified a larger concentration of fighters gathered around a settlement. Following the necessary operational procedures and authorisation, the platform launched a precision strike on the target.
Battle Damage Assessment indicated that the attack hit the intended location, killing about 16 suspected terrorists, including fighters inside makeshift structures and others positioned outside the huts.
The operation continued into the night.
Around midnight, the aircraft detected approximately 10 fighters who had escaped the initial strike and regrouped near a tree. The fleeing group was tracked and subsequently targeted in another precision strike.
Further assessment of the scene showed no signs of movement, leading military sources to conclude that the 10 suspected terrorists had also been neutralised.
The two engagements around Aduwa therefore accounted for approximately 26 suspected terrorists.
In a separate operation around Buratai, another Operation HADIN KAI precision strike platform tracked about 12 suspected terrorists who had assembled inside a hut.
The aircraft maintained surveillance over the location before receiving authorisation to engage. At approximately 12:31 a.m. on August 22, the platform carried out the strike, scoring a direct hit on the identified target.
Military assessment indicated that all 12 suspected terrorists at the location were neutralised.
The latest air operations form part of the Nigerian military’s intensified campaign to dismantle terrorist networks across the North-East by targeting their fighting formations, logistics, leadership structures and freedom of movement.
Military sources said the security environment remains calm but unpredictable, while troops continue to maintain satisfactory morale and operational effectiveness.
The successful strikes are expected to further disrupt terrorist command-and-control networks and make it increasingly difficult for insurgents to assemble large numbers of fighters without being detected.
With sustained aerial surveillance and ground operations putting pressure on terrorist formations, insurgents are reportedly being forced to abandon large gatherings and resort to smaller, concealed movements.
However, the latest strikes demonstrate that hiding in isolated locations may no longer provide guaranteed protection. The intensified military pressure also comes amid reports of a sharp increase in terrorist surrenders, with the number said to have risen by more than 250 per cent over the past month.
The latest development underscores the growing pressure on terrorist groups as Operation HADIN KAI sustains its offensive across the North-East.
Source:@ZagazolaMakama
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