The Nigerian Air Force has revealed its latest win, stating that it has carried out an attack on a terrorist stronghold in Borno State’s Sambisa Forest, killing around 15 of the militants.
The force said in a statement released Thursday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, its spokesperson, that the Air Component of mission Hadin Kai conducted the mission on September 3, 2025.
The strike, he said, targeted an enclave west of Zuwa in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, which had been identified by intelligence and surveillance as a hiding place for militants and commanders connected to recent attacks near Bitta.
The airstrike destroyed the militants’ structures and reduced their ability to operate, according to Ejodame.
“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. On 3 September 2025, a carefully planned and executed air interdiction mission struck a newly identified terrorist enclave west of Zuwa in the Sambisa general area.
“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.
“The Nigerian Air Force continues to stand as a symbol of vigilance, professionalism, and decisive airpower in defence of national security. Every successful strike brings Nigeria one step closer to lasting peace”, the statement read.
Since the insurgency started in 2009, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters have used the Sambisa Forest, a sizable region in the northeast, as a stronghold.
In an effort to lessen the gangs’ influence, the Nigerian military has conducted numerous operations in the region over the years.
The most recent operation takes place while the military continues its counterterrorism efforts in the Northeast, where banditry and insurgency have caused millions of people to be uprooted and their livelihoods to be disrupted.
