The Nigerian military has recorded another success in its counter-insurgency campaign after airstrikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly neutralised 27 terrorists in Borno State.
According to an operational report released by the Nigerian Air Force and made available on Sunday, the terrorists were killed during separate air interdiction missions targeting insurgent hideouts in the Southern and Northern Tumbus areas of the state.
The report stated that the operations were launched after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions identified terrorist activities within the targeted locations.
One of the strikes was carried out in the early hours of June 10 at Dawoshe, a notorious terrorist enclave in the Southern Tumbus area. Air assets, including Dragon attack platforms and ISR aircraft, reportedly detected terrorist vehicles moving within the location during aerial surveillance.
The vehicles were subsequently engaged and destroyed in a precision strike.
“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the vehicles were destroyed, while 12 terrorists were neutralised during the operation,” the report said.
On the same day, military aircraft also carried out a separate strike on terrorist positions in Metele, located in the Northern Tumbus area of Guzamala Local Government Area.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Troops Kill Terrorists, Rescue Three Kidnap Victims In Zamfara
According to the report, post-strike assessments supported by Battle Damage Assessment and Human Intelligence sources confirmed that 15 terrorists were killed in the operation.
Military authorities said the coordinated attacks dealt a significant setback to terrorist elements operating around the Lake Chad basin and the Tumbus hideouts, long regarded as strategic locations for insurgent activities.
The report noted that the operations formed part of ongoing efforts to weaken terrorist capabilities, disrupt supply and logistics networks, and limit the freedom of movement of insurgents across the North-East region.
With 27 terrorists reportedly eliminated in the two missions, the Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist strongholds until peace and security are fully restored in the affected areas.
The military has continued to intensify both air and ground operations across the North-East as part of efforts to combat terrorism and improve security in the region.