The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has successfully neutralised several high-value commanders and fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in a decisive air interdiction mission in the Lake Chad region.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
According to the statement, the precision strike was conducted on Sunday at Arina Woje, a known ISWAP stronghold in the Southern Tumbuns of Borno State. The area is believed to serve as a major sanctuary for insurgent leaders and logistics operations.
Ejodame said the mission followed a series of credible Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sorties which confirmed the return of terrorist elements to the area after recent inter-factional clashes.
“ISR data revealed significant terrorist activities, including movement of foot soldiers, reactivation of structures, and concealment of possible command centres and logistics depots beneath dense foliage,” he explained.
He added that based on the intelligence, NAF air assets were dispatched to conduct a focused strike mission. Upon arrival, the aircrew acquired and engaged pre-selected targets using precision-guided munitions, delivering what he described as devastating effects.
“Preliminary battle damage assessment reveals the destruction of several structures housing key ISWAP leaders, fighters, and logistics storage facilities, effectively disrupting the group’s operational planning and resupply efforts in the region,” Ejodame noted.
The NAF spokesman emphasized that the operation underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, denying them freedom of movement, and supporting ground forces in restoring peace and stability.
He also highlighted the success of the mission as a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-driven air power in modern counter-terrorism operations.
