THIS DAWN — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it recorded another major operational success in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
The remarks followed a carefully executed precision air interdiction mission that decimated a key terrorist enclave within the Sambisa general area.
The strike, carried out on 19 November 2025, targeted ARRA, a well-known hideout used by terrorist commanders and fighters operating across the northeast.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information.
According to Air Commodore Ejodame, the mission was conducted under the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff and executed by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
The operation followed weeks of intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities mounted after the deadly 17 October ambush on ground troops at KASHOMRI.
ISR coverage over KASHOMRI and deep inside the Sambisa axis revealed renewed terrorist movement, suspicious activity, and the presence of active structures believed to support logistics, command, and regrouping efforts.
“Complete destruction of identified targets”
With corroborated intelligence confirming ARRA as a high-value target, NAF air assets were deployed for a deliberate strike aimed at neutralizing emerging threats.
The interdiction involved successive, coordinated passes by NAF platforms, which acquired and engaged all designated targets with precision-guided munitions.
Ejodame confirmed that the strike achieved “complete destruction of all identified targets,” marking a decisive blow to the terrorists’ operational capacity.
The operation resulted in the crippling of command nodes and disruption of logistics routes.
It also resulted in the dismantling of structures linked to the coordination of attacks across Borno and surrounding areas.
The Air Force described the success as a demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the mounting pressure on terrorist factions still attempting to maintain a foothold in Sambisa Forest.
The NAF emphasized that the mission aligns with ongoing efforts to support ground troops, reinforce national security, and restore stability.
This successful mission underscores the NAF’s unwavering commitment to protecting the nation and supporting ground forces.
It further sustains relentless pressure on terrorist elements across all theatres of operation, the statement noted.
The Nigerian Air Force reaffirmed its resolve to pursue all threats to Nigeria’s peace and territorial integrity.
It stressed that similar precision operations will continue until terrorism is decisively defeated.
