Airstrikes Neutralise Over 18 Terrorists, Destroy Logistics Hubs in Borno

The air component of the Joint Task Force (North East), ‘Operation Hadin Kai‘, has neutralised more than 18 terrorists and destroyed several logistics hubs and structures belonging to the insurgents at Tumbunma Baba in the Tumbuns general area of Borno State.

The operation, conducted in the early hours of Friday, September 11, 2026, involved a coordinated deployment of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets and attack platforms in conjunction with ground troops.

Acting Military Information Officer, headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Maiduguri.

Goni said the air interdiction followed weeks of intelligence gathering which indicated the presence of high-profile terrorist elements within a network of meeting and logistics nodes located on the islands.

According to him, the intelligence was further validated through surveillance conducted by the theatre command and confirmatory ISR operations which commenced on Wednesday, September 9.

He said the surveillance activities pinpointed several terrorist structures and logistics hubs within the area, confirming that the enclave was being used as a gathering and support base by the terrorists.

Goni said following positive identification of the targets, the air platforms engaged the designated locations with precision munitions, while ground troops occupied likely escape routes to prevent the terrorists from fleeing and to facilitate further direct-fire engagements.

He said the strikes successfully destroyed the targeted structures and neutralised over 18 terrorist elements, dealing a significant blow to their activities in the area.

The military spokesman said the operation also disrupted the terrorists’ logistics network and degraded their capacity to use the location as a meeting, gathering and support base.

He disclosed that post-strike assessment indicated an estimated 85 per cent success in achieving the intended operational objectives.

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Goni said the outcome demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, timely ISR confirmation and the coordinated deployment of air assets in synergy with ground forces.

He assured that OPHK, in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders, would sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at denying terrorist elements the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the North-East Theatre.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible and timely information to security forces to support ongoing efforts to identify and disrupt terrorist activities across the theatre.