Military Intensifies Air Raids on ISWAP Targets in Sambisa Forest
The Nigerian military has significantly escalated its counter-terrorism operations in Borno State, with the air component of Operation Hadin Kai executing precision strikes against suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters within the Sambisa Forest. This offensive represents a critical phase in the ongoing campaign to dismantle terrorist networks in the North-East.
Precision Strikes Based on Credible Intelligence
Security sources confirmed that an air interdiction mission was launched following actionable intelligence indicating renewed terrorist activities deep inside the forest enclave. The targets were meticulously identified prior to engagement, ensuring maximum operational effectiveness. Air assets successfully struck key locations associated with ISWAP elements, significantly disrupting their logistical and operational capabilities in that strategic axis.
These airstrikes are part of a broader, sustained aerial offensive designed to degrade insurgent capacities while providing essential support to ground forces engaged in concurrent clearance operations. The primary objective is to deny terrorists freedom of movement and systematically dismantle their operational bases, according to military insiders. Coordinated efforts between air and ground troops are reportedly yielding measurable results in reducing insurgent mobility and influence.
Ongoing Surveillance and Assessment
Military surveillance platforms remain actively deployed over the Sambisa corridor and surrounding areas, continuously monitoring movements and assessing the impact of the strikes. Sambisa Forest has historically served as a major stronghold for insurgent groups operating in the North-East, making it a focal point for military operations aimed at restoring lasting security and stability to the region.
Church of Brethren Reports Severe Impact from Insurgency
In a related development, the Church of Brethren in Nigeria, known in Hausa as Ekklesiyar 'Yan'Uwa A Nigeria (EYN), has declared itself the denomination most severely affected by Boko Haram attacks. This marks the first time the Northeast-based religious group has publicly detailed its vulnerability to violence primarily instigated by insurgent or terrorist organizations.
The EYN, headquartered in Adamawa State, maintains most of its branches in the North-East, particularly in Adamawa and neighboring southern Borno, the epicenter of the persistent Boko Haram insurgency. During the ongoing General Church Council meeting in Kwarhi, EYN President Rev. Daniel Mbaya presented alarming figures showing worsening losses for the ministry.
At the end of 2025, we had 70 local church councils (branch churches) displaced, Rev. Mbaya disclosed. The number had increased from below 40 as of 2024, highlighting a sharp escalation in disruptions. He expressed deep concern that many Nigerians remain inadequately informed about the violent activities of Boko Haram and are therefore unaware that insurgency continues to pose a monumental challenge to communities and institutions.
Ecumenical Solidarity and Support
The EYN General Church Council, also referred to as Majalisa 2026, was a week-long assembly concluding today, attended by pastors from across the country as well as high-profile guests from within and outside Nigeria. The Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), Most Rev. Panti Musa, a special guest at the event, expressed profound sympathy for the EYN, acknowledging the heavy price paid for operating numerous churches in insurgency-troubled communities, especially around southern Borno State.
This dual narrative of military escalation and ecclesiastical distress underscores the complex, multifaceted nature of the security crisis in Nigeria's North-East, where both state and non-state actors grapple with the enduring threat of terrorism.
