The Nigerian Air Force has announced a significant victory in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the country's northeast. In a precision air interdiction carried out on Saturday, January 10, 2026, NAF jets successfully struck and destroyed a terrorists' camp located in the volatile Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno State.
Intelligence Guides Precision Strike on Abbaga Jiri
According to a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the operation was executed by the joint task force of Operation HADIN KAI. The target was a confirmed terrorists' enclave at Abbaga Jiri.
The mission was launched after multi-source intelligence verified the presence of active fighters, their structures, and hidden logistics facilities in the location. Based on this confirmed intelligence, NAF air assets were deployed for integrated surveillance, leading to a precise and coordinated strike.
"The operation was deliberately designed to degrade terrorist capability, deny sanctuary, and shape the battlespace for ground forces, in strict adherence to established rules of engagement and the protection of non-combatants," the statement from the Air Force read.
Structures Destroyed, Fighters Neutralised in Follow-Up
Air Commodore Ejodame disclosed that the initial precision air strikes resulted in the destruction of key terrorist structures. Subsequently, a follow-up engagement was conducted against armed elements who were seen regrouping at the location after the first attack.
This coordinated action is reported to have significantly weakened the operational capacity of the terrorist group within the notorious Timbuktu Triangle, a region long identified as a safe haven for various insurgent factions. The success of the air operation was later confirmed by ground troops who advanced into the area, validating the effectiveness of the joint air-land strategy.
Air Chief Reaffirms Commitment to Sustained Pressure
Commenting on the successful mission, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, stated that the outcome underscores the NAF's resolve to dominate the airspace in support of broader joint military operations.
"This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering precise and decisive airpower in support of ground forces. We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide," Air Marshal Aneke said.
He further emphasized that all NAF missions are meticulously planned and driven by intelligence, with a paramount focus on safeguarding innocent civilians caught in conflict zones.
"Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians. The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled," the Air Chief added.
This latest airstrike comes amidst continued military efforts to secure Nigeria's northern regions. It follows a recent tragic incident in Pulka, Borno state, where a bomb-wearing attacker killed five soldiers at a checkpoint in December 2025.
