The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Component, operating under joint task force of Operation HADIN KAI, has destroyed terrorist hideouts at Abirma, a confirmed insurgent enclave in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region of Borno State.
A statement by the NAF spokesman Air Cdre Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was executed on 17 March 2026 based on credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), which confirmed the active presence of terrorist fighters within the settlement.
According to him, subsequent aerial observation revealed insurgent movements around concealed structures deliberately hidden under dense vegetation, a tactic frequently employed to evade detection.
He added that following positive target identification and rigorous verification in line with established operational procedures, NAF air assets executed precision strikes on the identified locations.
He said the targets were engaged with precision munitions, resulting in the destruction of multiple terrorist structures and the disruption of their activities in the area.
“Preliminary Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) indicates that the strikes significantly degraded the terrorists’ capacity to utilise the location as a staging ground for attacks across the Lake Chad Basin,” he said.
In a related development, NAF aircraft in close coordination with Nigerian Army troops, killed several terrorists during a foiled infiltration attempt at Malam Fatori in Abadam local government area of Borno State in the early hours of 18 March 2026.
The statement said the joint response successfully prevented the insurgents from breaching defensive positions, thereby reinforcing ongoing efforts to stabilise the border communities.
According to him, the operations underscore the Nigerian Air Force’s sustained reliance on intelligence-driven precision air power as part of broader joint force efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and support ground operations aimed at restoring lasting peace and normalcy in the North East.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reassured Nigerians that sustained air operations across multiple theatres remain focused on protecting innocent lives, safeguarding communities, and denying terrorist and criminal elements the freedom to operate anywhere within the country.
He emphasised that the Service remains committed to executing its missions professionally, with strict adherence to rules of engagement and internationally recognised standards in civilian harm mitigation.
