NAF airstrikes kill terrorists, destroy hideouts in Borno

File photo: NAF fighter jets

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The Nigerian Air Force has said it conducted precision air interdiction missions at Dabar Masara, a known terrorist location in the Southern Tumbuns of Borno State, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist activities and logistics.

The operation, carried out on December 14, 2025, was executed by the Air Component of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

Ejodame said the service said coordinated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions had earlier revealed repeated terrorist movement and a concentration of vehicles concealed under vegetation, identifying the area as an active terrorist logistics hub.

The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Air Force has successfully conducted a precision Air Interdiction mission on 14 December 2025 at Dabar Masara, a known terrorist location in the Southern Tumbuns, as part of ongoing operations to disrupt terrorist activities and logistics.

“Acting on credible intelligence indicating the presence of a terrorist workshop and sustained movement of armed elements, the Air Component of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI deployed an integrated force package to conduct coordinated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with strike operations.

“Prior ISR missions had revealed repeated terrorist movement within the area, as well as a significant concentration of vehicles concealed under vegetation, confirming the location as an active terrorist logistics hub.”

Ejodame said further surveillance on the day of the operation confirmed the presence of terrorists manoeuvring within the location and around the identified vehicles, after which the targets were engaged.

He added that a post-operation battle damage assessment confirmed the destruction of the vehicles and the neutralisation of terrorist elements.

According to him, “On the day of the operation, further surveillance validated the earlier findings, with terrorists observed manoeuvring within the location and around the identified vehicles. Following positive identification and in strict adherence to the Rules of Engagement, the targets were engaged.

“Post-operation Battle Damage Assessment confirmed that the identified vehicles were destroyed and terrorist elements were neutralised. The successful execution of this mission underscores the NAF’s continued commitment to intelligence-driven, precise air operations in support of national efforts to degrade terrorist networks and enhance security across affected regions.”

The Southern Tumbuns, a network of marshlands around Lake Chad, has remained a major hideout for terrorist groups operating in the North-East, with the Nigerian military sustaining air and ground operations in the area to curtail insurgent activities.

The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.

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