The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded significant successes in its ongoing counterterrorism campaign in the North-West, destroying terrorist hideouts and eliminating scores of insurgents through a series of intelligence-driven air operations.
The operations, conducted by the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 1 between June 18 and 19, 2026, targeted key terrorist enclaves and movement corridors across the region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the missions combined precision airstrikes with extensive intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and armed patrol operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and supporting ground troops.
According to Ejodame, the operations were based on credible intelligence that identified active terrorist strongholds within the Joint Operations Area. NAF fighter aircraft subsequently launched precision strikes that destroyed the hideouts and severely weakened the operational capacity of the criminal elements.
He explained that in a separate operation around Kidandan, Air Force aircraft tracked and positively identified groups of terrorists moving within the area before engaging and neutralising them.
“The intelligence-led missions successfully disrupted terrorist activities and significantly degraded their capability to operate within the area,” the statement noted.
Ejodame further disclosed that follow-up aerial reconnaissance missions conducted over Fatika and Sabuwa confirmed the absence of further terrorist activity in the affected locations, indicating the effectiveness of the strikes.
He added that continuous aerial surveillance remains underway to provide real-time intelligence and support ongoing joint military operations across the North-West.
The NAF spokesperson said the successful missions highlight the Air Force’s commitment to denying terrorists freedom of movement while strengthening security and stability in the region.
Reaffirming the military’s operational doctrine, Ejodame recalled the position of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, who has consistently stressed the importance of close coordination between air and ground forces in counterinsurgency operations.
“Decisive air power delivers its greatest effect when seamlessly integrated with surface operations,” Aneke had stated.
Ejodame assured Nigerians that the Air Force would continue to deploy intelligence-driven air power in collaboration with ground forces to neutralise terrorist threats, safeguard civilian populations, and restore lasting peace across the North-West and other troubled regions of the country.
