The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has eliminated over 40 terrorists in synchronized close air support and air interdiction missions in the Azir and Musarram regions of Borno, thwarting intended assaults and enhancing current ground efforts.
This was included in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ejodame stated that the operations took place on January 15 and 16 by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, based on actionable intelligence and in close collaboration with ground troops.
He stated that the NAF aircraft promptly reacted to a distress call at Azir in the early hours of January 16, where soldiers were confronting terrorists retreating from the region.
He stated that additional scans uncovered terrorist groups trying to regroup beneath adjacent tree coverage, leading to targeted and successive airstrikes that eliminated many of them.
“Post-strike assessment confirmed no further threats, while feedback from ground troops, local authorities, and community sources indicated a significant degradation of terrorist presence and a return of relative calm.
“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.
“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 neutralized, while others who regrouped at an assembly area were also engaged, effectively dismantling the terrorist concentration,” he said.
In response, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reiterated the NAF’s dedication to delivering prompt and effective air assistance to ground troops.
Aneke stated that the operations showcased the efficacy of intelligence-driven aerial strength and the tight coordination between air and ground forces in restricting terrorists’ operational freedom.
He guaranteed Nigerians that there would be ongoing efforts against terrorist groups as the Armed Forces of Nigeria work to diminish their strength and stabilize impacted regions.
Azir and Musarram, found in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno, have consistently been centers of ongoing insecurity due to the actions of Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP.
In November 2025, troops near Wajiroko in Azir Multe were attacked, resulting in the deaths of soldiers and Civilian Joint Task Force members, alongside the execution of captured Brigadier General Musa Uba.
