By Bavoriat Clara
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its counterterrorism and counter-banditry operations across the country, conducting a series of precision airstrikes that neutralised Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and destroyed several bandit hideouts in multiple northern states.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the coordinated air missions, carried out on 9 November 2025, marked a decisive phase in ongoing joint operations under Operation HADIN KAI and Operation FANSAN YAMMA. The operations are part of renewed efforts to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks threatening peace and stability in Nigeria’s northern regions.
In Borno State, air interdiction missions targeted ISWAP strongholds in the Northern Tumbuns. Acting on real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) reports, NAF aircraft launched precision strikes southeast of Shuwaram before engaging enemy formations around Mallam Fatori. The terrorists, who were mobilising with motorcycles and boats along the Lake Chad Basin, were effectively neutralised as their logistics hubs and weapons depots were destroyed. Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple fatalities and the destruction of critical assets, significantly weakening ISWAP’s operational capabilities.
In Kwara State, NAF aircraft struck bandit camps in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, following credible intelligence that identified the locations as active criminal enclaves. The strikes resulted in heavy losses for the bandits, triggering panic among surviving elements. Similarly, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, precision strikes were executed on Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, where a notorious terrorist kingpin and his fighters were eliminated. The successful strikes destroyed key logistics facilities and further disrupted the group’s regional influence.
Extending its operational reach, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (Sector 1) also conducted armed reconnaissance across parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States, covering settlements such as Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua corridor—known routes for terrorist movements. During one of the missions, suspicious movement of armed men on motorcycles near Wam Hill was detected and swiftly neutralised following engagement by the aircrew.
The Nigerian Air Force noted that these precision operations demonstrate the service’s commitment to an intelligence-driven approach in tackling insecurity. The successes, Air Commodore Ejodame added, align with the directives of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to sustain aggressive and coordinated air operations aimed at safeguarding lives, property, and national sovereignty.
He reaffirmed that NAF remains resolute in employing smart, data-backed airpower to neutralise threats and restore enduring peace and security across Nigeria’s troubled regions.
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