The Nigerian Air Force has carried out sustained air operations in Borno State, targeting and destroying terrorist hideouts in the Southern Tumbuns area as part of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force, the operation was executed through the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai. The mission involved precision air interdiction carried out on April 24, 2026, at about 6:50 p.m. over Ali Sheriffti, a location identified as a terrorist enclave within the Southern Tumbuns.
The Air Force explained that the strike followed credible intelligence reports indicating terrorist movement in the area. This led to surveillance operations during which several suspected insurgents were observed moving along concealed routes. The targets were later tracked to structures hidden under thick vegetation, which were believed to be used to avoid detection.
After confirming the positions, air assets engaged the targets with precision-guided munitions, resulting in the destruction of the identified structures. The operation was said to have significantly weakened the terrorists’ presence in the area and reduced their ability to move freely within the region.
The statement further emphasized that the mission reflects the military’s continued reliance on intelligence-led and precision-based air operations to deny terrorist groups safe havens. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force to maintaining pressure on terrorist networks, noting that operations would continue with sustained intensity to enhance national security and protect civilians.
