The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched a series of coordinated airstrikes across multiple states, killing scores of terrorists and bandits in Borno, Kwara, Katsina, and other parts of the country as part of intensified counterterrorism operations.
In a statement on Monday, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, confirmed that precision airstrikes were carried out under “Operation Whirl Punch” and “Operation Hadin Kai,” targeting terrorist hideouts, logistics bases, and bandit enclaves.
According to Gabkwet, the strikes were conducted following credible intelligence reports indicating the presence of armed groups in several key locations, including Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Shitu in Borno State, Budo Forest in Kwara State, and parts of Safana and Faskari in Katsina State.
He said, “The air component of the Nigerian Armed Forces has continued to sustain momentum in the ongoing operations. The recent airstrikes neutralized dozens of terrorists and destroyed their logistics, thereby disrupting planned attacks on civilian and military targets.”
In Borno, the operation reportedly dismantled an ISWAP logistics hub along the Lake Chad axis, while in Katsina, several bandit camps were set ablaze, with their leaders among those killed. In Kwara and Niger States, surveillance and follow-up strikes targeted bandits attempting to regroup after previous attacks.
Security analysts described the latest strikes as a major boost to Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, particularly amid renewed efforts by the Armed Forces to regain control of volatile regions. Residents in affected areas have reported improved safety and a gradual return of displaced persons.
The NAF emphasized that it remains committed to minimizing collateral damage, noting that all operations were carried out after thorough surveillance and confirmation of enemy presence.
With insurgency and banditry continuing to threaten parts of the country, the Nigerian Air Force’s expanded operations signal a renewed determination to restore peace and stability across the North. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
