In a bold escalation of its counterterrorism campaign, Nigeria’s military has killed 592 insurgents and destroyed over 200 technical vehicles in Borno State over the past eight months, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced this week.
The operations, part of Operation Hadin Kai, have targeted Boko Haram and ISWAP militants entrenched in the country’s volatile northeast. Chief of Air Staff Hasan Abubakar hailed the campaign’s speed and precision, noting it has already surpassed 2024’s operational outcomes. “This year, our air campaign is quicker, more precise, and more surgical,” he said during a visit to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum. “We are eliminating high-value targets, crippling logistics networks, and dismantling cells that threaten peace in the northeast.”
The offensive involved 798 combat sorties and over 1,500 flight hours, covering hotspots such as Gonori, Damboa, and Mallam Fatori. New aircraft, including Mi-35 gunships and A-29 Super Tucanos, have enabled round-the-clock surveillance and precision night missions.
The military, meanwhile, also claimed another victory in Zamfara State, killing over 100 armed gang members — which are often called “bandits” by locals — on 12 August in a joint air and ground operation, thwarting a planned village attack. While analysts caution against overstating gains amid continued insurgent activity, these recent strikes mark a significant uptick in Nigeria’s efforts to restore security in its most troubled regions.
