The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has neutralised more than 15 terrorists in an airstrike on a hideout within the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.
In a statement on Thursday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was executed on September 3, 2025, by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
According to Ejodame, the strike targeted an enclave west of Zuwa, identified through intelligence and surveillance as a hideout for fighters and commanders linked to recent attacks around Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area.
He explained that the precision strike destroyed structures used by insurgents, degraded their operational capacity, and eliminated several fighters.
“The Nigerian Air Force, through the Air Component under the Joint Task Force North-East of Operation Hadin Kai, has once again demonstrated its precision, reach, and resolve in the fight against terrorism.
Acting on credible intelligence and confirmatory surveillance, the mission targeted hideouts harbouring fighters and commanders responsible for recent hostilities around Bitta. The strikes proved devastating, neutralising over 15 terrorists and demolishing key structures critical to their operations,” Ejodame said.
He added that the successful operation further underscores NAF’s commitment to national security and ongoing efforts to bring lasting peace to the North-East.
The Sambisa Forest has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters since the insurgency erupted in 2009. Despite sustained military operations, the area remains a flashpoint in Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.
The latest strike comes as the armed forces intensify operations to curb insurgency and banditry in the North-East, where violence has displaced millions and devastated communities.
