KEY POINTS

• The Nigerian Air Force successfully carried out two airstrikes on insurgent strongholds in Borno State’s Sambisa Forest, targeting high-value terrorist leaders and infrastructure.

• The strikes in Kollaram and Arra resulted in significant damage to insurgent positions and the elimination of several fighters, disrupting the group’s operations.

• The NAF’s continued air campaigns are part of a broader strategy under Operation HADIN KAI to weaken terrorist groups and restore stability in conflict-affected areas of Nigeria.

On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, announced the success of two airstrikes targeting terrorist strongholds in the Sambisa Forest area, Borno State.

The airstrikes, executed under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, were carried out with the goal of dismantling key insurgent hubs and eliminating terrorist leadership.

The first strike occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. on April 15, 2025, in Kollaram, an area long known for harboring insurgents. Intelligence and surveillance footage confirmed the presence of high-value targets, including terrorist commanders and operational hubs. The NAF carried out a precision strike that resulted in the destruction of critical infrastructure, including structures equipped with solar panels, which were being used by the insurgents.

“The NAF, under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, executed two highly successful air interdiction missions on April 15, targeting terrorist strongholds in the Sambisa general area and the Southern Tumbuns,” said Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters.

The NAF has emphasized that the strategic air campaigns are designed not only to target and eliminate terrorist cells but also to dismantle the critical infrastructure that sustains insurgent operations.

The Punch reports the use of advanced surveillance and targeting technology plays a central role in ensuring that airstrikes are carried out with precision, minimizing civilian casualties while maximizing impact on enemy forces.

Operation HADIN KAI, which was launched by the Nigerian military to address insurgent activities in the region, continues to receive support from both national and international partners. The Nigerian government remains committed to intensifying its efforts to neutralize insurgents and restore peace to the northeastern region of the country.

Second strike from NAF further dismantles insurgent operations

Later in the day, at around 3:55 p.m., NAF assets conducted a second strike in Arra, another area in Sambisa. Real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed clusters of armed militants.

The second strike used precision-guided munitions to effectively destroy insurgent positions and further disrupt the terrorist group’s operational capabilities.

“These back-to-back missions are part of a sustained air campaign aimed at eroding terrorist capabilities, dismantling leadership structures, and eliminating sanctuaries across Nigeria,” Ejodame added. The air operations are part of the NAF’s broader strategy to weaken insurgent forces and restore peace to conflict-affected regions in the country.

The successful execution of these strikes marks another step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to combat insurgency and restore stability in the northeast, where Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have long operated.