The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has dealt a significant blow to insurgents in the Lake Chad Basin, destroying a terrorists’ food depot and eliminating several fighters during airstrikes on their enclave at Jubillaram in the Tumbuns area.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Akinboyewa, the operation took place on November 23, following detailed intelligence that pinpointed the location as a critical food storage hub and a haven for terrorist commanders and their fighters.
He further revealed that intelligence linked the group to recent attacks, including the assault on troops in Kareto on November 16. Acting on this information, NAF fighter jets conducted a decisive air interdiction mission, targeting and destroying structures used for storage and neutralising terrorists within the area.
Extensive Surveillance and Precision Strikes
Akinboyewa highlighted the pivotal role of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, which verified the terrorists’ presence under dense vegetation. “The success of the operation relied on days of meticulous ISR efforts, enabling precise targeting,” he noted.
The mission culminated in mop-up operations, with NAF aircraft deploying cannons to ensure the complete elimination of fleeing insurgents.
Strategic Victory
The destruction of the enclave, including its food storage facilities, has reportedly disrupted the terrorists’ logistical supply chain and diminished their capacity for future attacks.
“The neutralisation of a significant number of fighters and the destruction of vital infrastructure is a testament to the NAF’s dedication to defending Nigeria,” Akinboyewa said. He reaffirmed the force’s commitment to sustaining robust independent and joint counterterrorism operations until all threats to the nation’s peace and prosperity are neutralised.
The airstrikes underscore the NAF’s resolve to support ground forces in combating insurgency and safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.