NAF attacks terrorist locations across North East, North West, causing casualties
NAF
Says terrorists’ movement activities were tracked while moving in large motorcycle convoys and engaged at a forested convergence point.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has carried out airstrikes on terrorist hideouts, routes, and assembly areas in the North East and North West regions, resulting in heavy casualties among the armed groups.
It said the joint task forces of Operations HADIN KAI and FASAN YAMMA Sector 2 conducted a series of ‘coordinated, intelligence-led operations’ from January 1 to 3 across critical threat corridors in the regions.
NAF’s spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame revealed this in a statement, on Saturday.
According to Ejodame, in the North-East theatre, successive precision strikes were delivered against deeply concealed terrorist enclaves at Abirma and Chiralia within the Timbuktu Triangle, following persistent surveillance that confirmed active facilities linked to improvised explosive device production and attack planning.
He said: “The strikes resulted in the complete destruction of targeted structures, with multiple secondary explosions observed, clear indicators of the elimination of explosive stockpiles and critical logistics.
“Follow-on interdiction operations at Guva in the Mandara Mountains further dismantled terrorist storage and coordination nodes, severely degrading their ability to regroup, resupply, or mount attacks during the festive period and beyond.”
The NAF’s spokesperson said “decisive” airstrikes were conducted simultaneously in the North-West, particularly around Karaduwa Giginya Na in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He said terrorists’ movement activities were tracked while moving in large motorcycle convoys and engaged at a forested convergence point.
“Post-strike assessments and corroborated local feedback confirmed the neutralisation of several terrorists, the destruction of multiple motorcycles, and the elimination of assorted weapons,” Ejodame said.
He noted that the sustained multi-theatre strikes underscore the NAF’s “overwhelming airpower presence, rapid strike capability, and unwavering resolve to systematically dismantle terrorist networks.”
In a separate statement, the NAF’s spokesperson said the service has recovered one of its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that went missing on January 2.
Ejodame was deployed on a routine mission within the Operation FASAN YAMMA Sector 3 area, during which it experienced a loss of link.
He said all efforts to restore the link proved abortive.
“Accordingly, in line with established procedures, the crew initiated emergency return-to-base actions, while the NAF immediately activated coordinated response and recovery measures in collaboration with sister Services and relevant authorities.
“The platform has since been contained, with assessment and recovery activities progressing as planned. Relevant technical teams have secured the platform and commenced preliminary evaluations in line with established safety and operational procedures.
“There has been no loss of life, and operational activities across all theatres continue uninterrupted,” he said.
Ejodame reassured the public of NAF’s continued professionalism and operational focus, as counter-insurgency operations proceed unabated in the interest of national security.
