A precision airstrike by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has reportedly destroyed a concealed terrorist enclave in Borno State, killing at least 12 suspected insurgents and wiping out facilities believed to be sustaining their operations.
The details were disclosed by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, on Wednesday, August 5, which cited military sources familiar with the operation.
According to the report, the strike was carried out on August 4 after intelligence revealed renewed terrorist activity around Chiralia, a densely forested area long exploited by insurgents as a hideout because of its thick vegetation and difficult terrain.
The publication said Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets were deployed at about 11:40 a.m. to conduct an armed reconnaissance mission over the location.
During the mission, surveillance teams reportedly detected groups of suspected insurgents moving within the enclave, along with several concealed structures hidden beneath the forest canopy.
“During the mission, the surveillance crew identified several terrorists moving within the enclave, alongside a number of concealed life-support structures carefully hidden beneath thick vegetation,” Zagazola Makama reported.
“The facilities were assessed to be serving as operational shelters, logistics hubs and staging points for terrorist activities.
“Upon confirming the targets, the platform maintained continuous surveillance while relaying real-time intelligence and precise target coordinates, the attack aircraft executed a series of precision strikes on the identified locations, achieving direct hits on the concealed structures.
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“Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted immediately after the strike confirmed that the terrorist camp was completely destroyed, with the life-support structures reduced to rubble.”
The publication said about 12 suspected insurgents were killed in the bombardment.
It added that secondary explosions and prolonged fires observed after the strike suggested that weapons, ammunition and other supplies stored at the camp were also destroyed.
According to Zagazola Makama, military sources described the operation as a carefully coordinated intelligence-led mission that demonstrated the growing synergy between surveillance platforms and precision strike capabilities deployed under Operation HADIN KAI.
The publication said the sources believed the operation would significantly weaken the affected terrorist cell by denying it a safe haven and disrupting its ability to regroup, plan attacks and sustain logistics.
“They added that the operation forms part of sustained offensive air campaigns aimed at locating and destroying terrorist sanctuaries across the North-East, particularly in remote forested locations where insurgents continue to seek refuge after suffering repeated setbacks from ground and air offensives,” Zagazola Makama reported.
“The sources further disclosed that although the general security situation across the theatre remains calm, it is still unpredictable due to the fluid nature of terrorist movements.
“They, however, assured that troops of Operation HADIN KAI remain highly motivated, combat-ready and committed to sustaining offensive operations until all terrorist enclaves are dismantled and lasting peace is restored across the region,” it concluded.