The Nigerian Air Force on Thursday said its troops have killed no fewer than 15 terrorists during an airstrike on a hideout in Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
According to a statement signed by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the operation was carried out on September 3, 2025, by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
He explained that the strike was launched against an enclave west of Zuwa, identified through intelligence and surveillance as a base for fighters and commanders behind recent attacks around Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Ejodame said the bombardment destroyed several structures used by the insurgents and weakened their capacity to operate in the region.
“The Nigerian Air Force, through the Air Component under the Joint Task Force North-East of Operation Hadin Kai, has once again demonstrated its precision, reach, and resolve in the fight against terrorism. On 3 September 2025, a carefully planned and executed air interdiction mission struck a newly identified terrorist enclave west of Zuwa in the Sambisa general area.
“Acting on credible intelligence and confirmatory surveillance, the mission targeted hideouts harbouring fighters and commanders responsible for recent hostilities around Bitta. The strikes proved devastating, neutralising over 15 terrorists and demolishing key structures critical to their operations.
“The Nigerian Air Force continues to stand as a symbol of vigilance, professionalism, and decisive airpower in defence of national security. Every successful strike brings Nigeria one step closer to lasting peace,” the statement read.
The Sambisa Forest, a vast area in the North-East, has long been a stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters since the insurgency erupted in 2009.
The latest attack comes amid renewed counterterrorism efforts in the North-East, where insurgency and banditry have displaced millions of residents and crippled economic activities for more than a decade.