Air platforms of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have eliminated about 38 suspected terrorists in a series of precision air strikes conducted against terrorist concentrations in Borno State.

The coordinated strikes, involving multipe Operation Hadin Kai’s precision strike Air Platforms, were conducted after intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions identified movements of suspected terrorists in separate locations.

The operations were carried out between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026, as part of intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist formations and disrupt their freedom of movement in the North-East.

According to sources, an armed reconnaissance platform was operating over Aduwa, at about 10:23 p.m. on August 21, when it received intelligence on the presence of terrorist vehicles and fighters in the area.

The platform conducted surveillance of the location and subsequently tracked suspected terrorists to a settlement where a group of about eight fighters had gathered in one location, while several other groups were observed in different positions.

Following appropriate operational procedures and authorisation, the platform conducted a precision strike against the larger concentration.

Battle Damage Assessment indicated that the strike hit the intended target, with suspected terrorists inside makeshift structures and others outside the huts eliminated. The initial strike was assessed to have neutralised approximately 16 terrorists.

The operation did not end with the first strike. At about midnight, the precision platform continued surveillance of the area and tracked approximately 10 terrorists who had fled from the initial strike location and regrouped near a tree.

The aircraft subsequently conducted another strike on the fleeing group. Subsequent battle damage assessment indicated that the weapon struck the intended target.

No movement was observed around the strike location, leading the military to assess that the 10 terrorists were neutralised. The combined precision strike operations therefore accounted for approximately 26 terrorists.

In a separate operation, another precision strike platform conducted a strike against suspected terrorists after tracking a group of about 12 fighters to a hut around Buratai. The platform maintained surveillance over the target before receiving the necessary authorisation to engage.

At about 12:31 a.m. on August 22, the attack platform conducted the strike, achieving a direct hit on the identified target. The engagement was assessed to have neutralised all 12 suspected terrorists gathered at the location.

The strikes come as troops of Operation HADIN KAI continue to intensify pressure on terrorist networks operating across the North-East, targeting their leadership, logistics, fighting formations and freedom of movement.

Military sources said the general security situation remains calm but unpredictable, while the morale and fighting efficiency of troops remain satisfactory.

The latest operations are expected to further disrupt terrorist command-and-control structures and deny the insurgents the ability to mass fighters without detection.

As Operation HADIN KAI sustains its campaign, terrorist groups operating in the North-East are increasingly being forced to abandon large gatherings and adopt smaller, more concealed movements to evade detection.The latest strikes however shows that concealment alone may no longer guarantee safety hence the recent increase in terrorist surrenders by over 250% in the last one month alone. (Zagazola)

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