The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said several terrorists were killed and their operational facilities destroyed during fresh air strikes carried out in the Gezuwa-Sambisa axis of Borno State, in what appears to be another push to weaken insurgent strongholds in the North-East.
The strikes, conducted on May 26, targeted locations around Biramiri in the Gezuwa area of the Sambisa forest, a region long regarded as one of the major enclaves of insurgent groups operating in Borno and neighbouring states.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force,(NAF) Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation followed what he described as credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance reports on the movement and activities of suspected terrorists within the axis.
Ejodame stated that air assets under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out “precision strikes” on identified hideouts and support structures believed to be used by the insurgents.
He explained that the bombardment destroyed key facilities linked to the group’s operations and further disrupted their ability to coordinate activities within the forest corridor.
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Although the NAF did not disclose the exact number of casualties recorded during the strikes, the latest operation highlights the military’s continued reliance on aerial offensives as a central component of its counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East.
For years, the Sambisa forest has remained symbolic in Nigeria’s battle against insurgency, serving as a difficult terrain for both military operations and intelligence gathering. While security authorities have repeatedly announced successful raids and territorial gains in the region, pockets of attacks and ambushes have persisted across parts of Borno and adjoining states.
Air Force, however, maintained that the latest offensive had heightened pressure on insurgent groups operating within the axis.
Ejodame stated that the sustained air raids were generating “fear and confusion” among terrorist elements. He addied that intelligence assessments pointed to growing disorientation within their ranks.
According to him, the repeated strikes have continued to deny the insurgents freedom of movement and access to safe havens across sections of the forest.
Military authorities have increasingly adopted coordinated air-and-ground operations in recent months, especially in remote areas where insurgents are believed to maintain camps, logistics bases, and escape routes.
The NAF spokesperson further stated that the Air Force is working in collaboration with troops of Operation HADIN KAI and other security agencies to sustain pressure on terrorist networks operating in the region.
He added that the military remained committed to protecting civilian populations and restoring stability across the North-East.
Despite repeated military offensives, insecurity linked to insurgent activities has continued to affect several communities in Borno State, with concerns also lingering over displacement, attacks on rural settlements, and the humanitarian toll of the prolonged conflict.
The latest air operation comes in the midst of renewed efforts by security forces to prevent armed groups from regrouping within forested areas and border communities across the region.
