The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised dozens of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters during coordinated air interdiction missions carried out across parts of Borno and Yobe states, including the notorious Timbuktu Triangle.
Security expert Zagazola Makama disclosed that the successful operations followed actionable intelligence obtained from the Nigerian Army’s unmanned aerial vehicles, which detected the movement and concentration of ISWAP elements along the Ambia Tasha, Ambia Sheruri, Ambia Turo and Shangamaru axes in Yobe State on January 13.
According to the report, real-time intelligence, reinforced by sustained aerial surveillance, enabled military forces to accurately map the terrorists’ routes, hideouts and assembly points, providing a clear operational picture for swift engagement.
Following confirmation of the intelligence, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai authorised and carried out precision airstrikes on identified ISWAP targets. The strikes were said to have destroyed several terrorist assets, including motorcycles commonly used for mobility, logistics and rapid attacks.
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The coordinated bombardment reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents, disrupting their movements and degrading their operational capability in the affected areas.
Military sources said the air interdiction missions form part of ongoing efforts to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement, dismantle their logistics networks and prevent planned attacks against civilian communities and security formations in the North-East.
The latest operation underscores the growing reliance on intelligence-driven air operations by the Nigerian military to weaken insurgent strongholds and sustain pressure on terror groups operating within the Lake Chad region and its environs.
