The Nigerian Air Force has intensified its offensive against terrorist groups in Adamawa and Borno States, carrying out coordinated air strikes on suspected terrorist strongholds in the Southern Tumbuns and Mandara Mountains in the North East.

The air strikes, conducted on May 19, 2026, targeted Bukar Meram in the Southern Tumbuns and Chikide in the Mandara Mountains under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.

According to the NAF, the operations were launched following credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions which identified terrorist logistics hubs, structures and assembly points hidden within the enclaves.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the force said several terrorists were neutralised during the operation, while planned attacks were disrupted.

The statement noted that the strikes successfully destroyed terrorist logistics facilities and operational structures used by the insurgents.

Speaking on the operation, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to sustaining joint military operations aimed at restoring peace across the country.

“The Nigerian Air Force remains committed to sustaining coordinated joint operations with sister Services and allied partners to eliminate terrorism and restore peace across the country,” he said.

Aneke stressed that intelligence-driven air operations would continue against terrorist networks and hideouts across affected regions.

“Intelligence-driven air operations will continue to identify and destroy terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and operational bases wherever they exist,” the Air Chief added. (PUNCH)

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