The Nigerian military has confirmed that airstrikes in Borno State killed more than 18 terrorists and dismantled key logistics infrastructure used by insurgents in the north-east. The operation, conducted by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted a terrorist meeting point in the Tumbuns area on Friday.
Details of the Precision Strike
Captain Mohammed Goni, spokesman for the OPHK task force, disclosed the development in an official statement from the Defence Headquarters. He said the operation was carried out in the early hours of Friday at Tumbunma Baba, within the Tumbuns general area of Borno State.
According to Captain Goni, the operation brought together the air component and ground troops from Sector 1 of the task force. Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms were used alongside attack aircraft to execute the strike.
Intelligence-Led Targeting and Execution
Military intelligence gathered over several weeks had flagged the location as a gathering point and logistics base for high-profile terrorist elements. Surveillance by the theatre command, which began on Wednesday, September 9, confirmed the presence of terrorist structures on the island.
After positive identification of the targets, air platforms struck the designated locations with precision munitions. Ground troops were simultaneously deployed to seal off likely escape routes, preventing militants from fleeing and allowing direct engagement where necessary.
"Following positive identification of the targets, the air platforms acquired and engaged the designated locations with precision munitions," Goni said.
Operational Success and Impact
A post-strike assessment put the operation's success rate at roughly 85 per cent. The strikes destroyed the identified structures and, according to the military, neutralised more than 18 terrorist fighters.
The task force said the operation degraded the group's capacity to use the enclave as a base for regrouping and receiving supplies. Goni described the mission as proof that coordinated, intelligence-driven operations backed by timely ISR confirmation can produce measurable results.
"Working in concert with all security agencies and stakeholders, OPHK will continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations to deny terrorist elements the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the theatre," he said.
Call for Public Support
The task force also called on members of the public in the north-east to stay alert and share credible information with security agencies to help disrupt further terrorist activities in the region. This follows a previous operation in which the Nigerian Air Force killed nine ISWAP terrorists, including a senior commander, in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
