Jubilation as NAF Airstrikes Kill Over 40 Terrorists

Jubilation as NAF Airstrikes Kill Over 40 Terrorists

  • Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed over 40 terrorists in coordinated airstrikes in Borno State
  • The NAF airstrikes supported by actionable intelligence disrupted planned attacks by terrorists on January 15 and 16, 2026
  • NAF operations targeted terrorist regrouping attempts, successfully neutralizing fleeing militants in the Tumbuns area of Borno State

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

Borno State - The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disrupted planned attacks and killed more than 40 terrorists in coordinated airstrikes in Borno State.

The terrorists were killed in coordinated close air support and air interdiction operations at Azir and Musarram areas of Borno.

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The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed that the operations were conducted on January 15 and 16 by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.

Ejodame said the NAF attacked the terrorists following actionable intelligence and in close coordination with troops in contact.

As reported by The Punch, he made this known in a statement issued Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Abuja.

The NAF spokesperson further stated that successive airstrikes killed several terrorists after scans revealed terrorist elements attempting to regroup under nearby tree cover.

“Earlier on January 15, NAF air assets carried out a successful air interdiction at Musarram in the Tumbuns general area after intelligence revealed terrorists assembling on canoes to launch attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis.

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“On arrival, the aircraft sighted about 10 canoes and over 40 suspected terrorists, who were engaged in multiple passes, throwing them into disarray.
“Some fleeing elements were trailed and neutralised, while others who regrouped at an assembly area were also engaged, effectively dismantling the terrorist concentration.”

Jubilation as NAF strike kills 23 fleeing terrorists

Recall that the Nigerian Army Air Component killed no fewer than 23 bandits fleeing from Kano State into neighbouring Katsina State.

The terrorists were killed following coordinated ground and air operations under Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Babatunde Zubairu, shared more details about the air strike.

Troops kill Boko Haram terrorists

Legit.ng also reported that troops of the Nigerian Army operating under Operation HADIN KAI decisively dealt with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

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Eleven terrorist fighters surrender in Borno as troops intensify offensive

The soldiers killed scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during a well-executed ambush in Sojiri and Kayamla communities, Borno State.

The Nigerian Army narrated how the troops disrupted a major Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist logistics movement before killing the fighters.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adekunle Dada avatar

Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a trained journalist with over 8 years of working experience. He is also a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Ojo. Adekunle previously worked at PM News, The Sun, and Within Nigeria, where he expressed his journalistic skills with well-researched articles and features. In 2024, Adekunle obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. He can be reached via adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng.