By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday said it has intensified its counter-insurgency operations in the north-east region of the West African country, carrying out a precision air strike that killed several militants concealed in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, a long-standing stronghold of armed groups.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the air force said the April 19 strike was conducted under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, following credible intelligence backed by Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) that confirmed the presence of fighters operating from fortified structures and bunkers within the area.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, has sustained intense pressure on terrorist elements in the North-East, with a precision air strike on 19 April 2026 eliminating several fighters concealed within the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest,” the statement read.
According to the NAF, air assets deployed precision-guided munitions to engage the identified targets, destroying the structures and neutralising multiple fighters, while also hitting logistics facilities critical to the groups’ operations. Subsequent battle damage assessment indicated that the strike achieved its primary objectives, further weakening militant capacity in the enclave.
The operation forms part of a broader push by Nigerian forces to sustain pressure on insurgent networks across the theatre, where intensified aerial and ground offensives have sought to limit the ability of fighters to regroup or launch coordinated attacks. Military officials say the tempo of operations has increasingly forced armed groups into reactive movements, exposing them to further strikes.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reiterated the service’s commitment to maintaining relentless, intelligence-led operations, signalling that air power will continue to play a central role in efforts to stabilise the region.
Authorities added that operations would continue to adhere strictly to established rules of engagement, with an emphasis on precision targeting to minimise civilian harm while sustaining pressure on remaining insurgent strongholds.
